Review: THE GHOSTS OF LOTE BRAVO at Unicorn Theatre

Now playing at Kansas City's Unicorn Theatre is a Rolling World Premier of Hilary Bettis' new dark fantasy drama "The Ghosts of Lote Bravo." Lote Bravo is a village outside Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico. Juarez is a border city opposite El Paso, Texas. It is an industrial hub and major port of entry into the United States.

Juarez has also become a major transit hub for illegal drugs. The drugs are under the control of the Sinaloa Drug Cartel. Think of criminal mobs in the United States during the prohibition years. Juarez has become the most violent city in the world. Prostitution is rampant. The bodies of over 400 young women have been recovered from the Lote Bravo neighborhood of the city and another 400 young women have simply disappeared.

"The Ghosts of Lote Bravo" treats one poor family of five from Juarez. Juanda Catu (Vanessa A. Davis) is a widow with four children. The oldest of the children, Raquel (Rebecca Munoz) has been forced out of school and into the workforce to help support the family. It is not made clear in the play, but it is probable the father of the family has been a victim of Juarez violence. Juanda is an employee of an American Maquiladora.

A Maquiladora is an American owned factory facilitated by the North America Free Trade Agreement. It has provided thousands of jobs for Mexicans. American companies have built these factories because wage levels are so much lower in Mexico than in the States. People from the interior have flocked get these jobs. Juarez has transformed from a sleepy border town to 2.7 million people.

Raquel has gone missing. Juanda is beside herself with grief. She reports the missing girl to the Juarez police. In charge of the station is Pedro Lopez (Bradley J. Thomas). He seems overwhelmed and angry. Juanda is offered little hope.

Each of the 800 sworn officers in Juarez must deal with at least one murder or missing child every day. And the audience does not yet know that Pedro has problems with his own son. He has become a lower level ruffian himself. It is also obvious that the real power on the most local level is the Cartel.

Going home with little satisfaction from the police, Juanda decides that her only hope lies in prayer to an ancient diety who has shown remarkable control in places like Juarez. Her name is Santa Muerte (Meredith Wolfe) or the Saint of Death. Santa Muerte much resembles characters from the fall Day of the Dead celebration. Santa Muerte hears Juanda's payers and appears to her in a puff of smoke. It is through Santa Meurte visions that Juanda will see what has happened to her 15 year old daughter.

"The Ghosts of Lote Bravo" offers an interesting portal into the lives of one family who stands in for many similar families. It is not a happy tale. People are always looking for a better way. They may seek a better job or emigration to a more prosperous place. The audience sees the price that may be paid by those who harbor the dream. As is usual at the Unicorn, sets and lighting is outstanding. The staff makes the best use of the facility they have to work with.

"The Ghosts of Lote Bravo" continues its world premiere run at the Unicorn through May 8th. Tickets are available at the unicorn website (www.unicrorntheatre.org) or by telephone at (816) 531-7529.

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