Steadstyle Chicago
	March 2008 Theatre Review by Alan Bresloff
	Looking for a Ticket Broker? Check out the hottest broadway tickets from Gotickets.com Solo(tu) We are very fortunate in Chicago to have Teatro Luna.  The first and only all-Latina theater ensemble has dedicated themselves to creating work that showcases their talents and sharing the Latina life experience to the theater going public (no matter their ethnicity).  I have seen many works in progress over my years, but with these ladies, they workshop before putting it on the stage for our eyes and as they continue to grow as an organization, they also continue to mature as artists. Their current production is a true gem. Four monologues, each with a different view, are united as a pure work of art in showing four women and how they deal with "motherhood" and pregnancy issues in their lives.  Each story is autobiographical for the writer and each is performed with just the right touch by the four marvelous actresses.  There is a legend about a mythical Mexican woman who is searching for her lost children, "La Llorna/The Weeping Woman" which is used to bring these monologues together.  Directed by Tanya Saracho, who also wrote one of the stories and some very haunting music and lyrics with William Kurk, this is a showcase for not just the performers, but the writers as well.  While there is a sprinkling of Spanish in the stories, the message is loud and clear and no matter what your race or religion you will find the humor, the warmth and the realism in each of these stories.  In 90 wonderful minutes of theater we see that all the dreams of what Motherhood should be do not always go as anticipated. Writers of these monologues are Desiree Castro ("It's Never The Right Time"), Diane Herrera ("Pregnant Pause"), Coya Paz ("Bitter Old Hag") and Tanya Saracho ("Not A Thing").  One story deals with a 30 year old Lesbian who wants nothing more than to have a child but for some reason cannot get pregnant.  Another concerns a young mother who didn't want to be like all the other mothers and her being alone with her child for the most part, very alone.  The third story deals with an "accidental" pregnancy and the fourth with one that is not and the emotion that a woman must deal with in aborting a child.  Each story is powerful in content and in performance (and yes, there are some very funny moments). The actresses who do these stories, Dana Cruz ( "Bitter Old Hag"), Yadira Correa ("Not a Thing"), Suzette Mayobre ("Pregnant Pause") and Miranda Gonzalez ("It's Never The Right Time") are able to bring these stories to life and Marie Antoinette Flores as "The Weeping Woman" ties these stories together with movement and song (hauntingly).  While we never see her close-up, we feel her watching over each of these women (as if they were her "lost children").  This is one to see! "Solo(tu) will run through April 13, 2006 at Chicago Dramatists, located at 1105 W. Chicago Ave. This is a perfect venue for the intimacy of this production and set designer, Tim Borntrager has done a great job creating the four sets within the framework of the world we live in. Performances are Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., Sunday at 6 p.m.  Tickets are $15.00 (yes, this is not a typo, for just a little more than a movie ticket, live theater) and are available by calling 773-878-LUNA (5862) or visit www.teatroluna.org/current.html or www.brownpapertickets.com.   About Alan Bresloff Alan Bresloff, once an actor himself, has been covering the Chicago Theater Scene since 1993, first as the Theater and Arts critic for LaRaza newspaper, then with Salsachicago.com and then onto Extra Newspaper and The EpochTimes.  He also writes for ElImparcial and TeleGuia.  His reviews can also be seen on www.theatreinchicago.com.  Alan does not call himself a "critic" but a "reviewer" as he tries to educate the reader about theater itself, what is a good value, what to look for in a play or musical and more.  "Exposure to theater is a very important part of a young person's life" he says. "Learning about the arts and culture is in fact learning about life" and he tries to explain more in his reviews than just if it is good or bad.  Even some of the poor productions have some value, he often says and he would love your feedback on shows that you have seen.  You can write him here or at albresloff@sbcglobal.net.