Ethnic humor has always been a tricky thing in this nation of immigrants. A hundred years ago the most popular type of American comedy was played out by vaudevillians exaggerating racial stereotypes for laughs. By modern sensibilities you could say that many of these performers weren't exactly respectful of the people they would portray, but there is also a strong tradition of comics making fun of their own backgrounds for the amusement of his or her own people. That's the spirit of Rick Najera's Latinologues, a play that combines stand-up comedy, solo character-driven theatre and sketch comedy.
Though not exactly exclusionary, the show is performed under the assumption that the audience is made up almost entirely of Latinos. ("Any Dominicans here tonight?" "Where are the Puerto Ricans?") Many of the punch lines are in Spanish and you must be familiar with certain Latin American cultural references to really get the humor. Fortunately for me, my Cuban buddy was able to whisper quick translations in my ear during the laughs and later on explained the significance of lines like, "Argentinians, you are not Europeans! I repeat, you are not Europeans!"
Performed on a bare stage by a cast of four, including Najera himself, Latinologues begins as a series of character monologues, each depicting someone of Latin heritage living in the U.S., usually of a lower income bracket. We gradually see personal connections between the characters as the show starts resembling sketch comedy. Aside from a couple of poinent moments, there's no heavy message or in-depth cultural analysis. It's just 90 minutes of good-natured ethnic humor, mostly derived from the differences between nationalities within the Latin community, and judging from the boisterous reactions from the crowd around me, heavily populated with Latin Americans, it's a lot of fun for those in the know.
After a clever series of projections encouraging us to support other Latino shows on Broadway ("Who's Afraid of La Migra") we're introduced to an illegal Mexican immigrant (Eugenio Derbez) who advises us it's cheaper to get deported back to Puerta Viarta than to buy a plane ticket. ("I earn frequent deportation miles."), followed by Najera as border policeman Buford Gomez. ("I put the panic to the Hispanic.").
Rene Lavan plays a handsome Colombian busboy who calls himself El Macho and brags of his sexual prowess. Later he returns as a Dominican janitor with some gently handled material about his experience at the World Trade Center. Shirley A. Rumierk has her moments of pathos as a prostitute trying to make a better life and a girl from the Bronx who believes her pregnancy to be an immaculate conception, before letting loose as a Miss Puerto Rican Day Parade who isn't about to give up her crown so easily.
Although the more realistic characters are generally effective in their short monologues, it's a bit more hit and miss when the comedy leans toward broader cartoons. A movie preview of Mexican Moses has a few obvious gags ("Thou shalt not pirate DVDs.") but never goes anywhere. Same for a sketch involving the father of Elian Gonzales with Najera in short pants bawling about how he wants to go back to Miami and Disney World. And although the drug lord sketch wasn't exactly a laugh riot, I got a big kick at how kingpin Najera would toss around handfuls of cocaine and his bodyguard (Derbez) would frantically try and sniff it in midair.
Director Cheech Marin keeps the proceedings light and the talented cast members play their undemanding roles with a likable energy. Even if the material isn't your style, the performers are fine comics who play the audience well and are never dull.
As Najero said at the end of curtain calls, "If you're Latino, tell all your cousins about the show. And if you're Anglo, tell your employees."
Photos by Joan Marcus: Top: Rick Najera and Rene Lavan
Center: Rick Najera, Eugenio Derbez, Rene Lavan and Shirley A. Rumierk
Bottom: Eugenio Derbez
