Review: TOMAS AND THE LIBRARY LADY at The Coterie Theatre

Lacks of minority diversity are suddenly hot button issues for America. It is, therefore, an appropriate coincidence that the professional Coterie children's theater on Level I at Crown Center offers audiences of all ages an interesting take on the subject with its first bi-lingual production, "Tomas and the Library Lady." The Coterie could not have known that immigration and diversity would become the leading issues of the day when they scheduled "Tomas and the Library Lady" on the 2016 schedule.

"Tomas and the Library Lady" is adapted for the stage by Jose Cruz Gonzalez from a book by Pat Mora. It tells the story a real life youngster named Tomas Rivera in the early 1940s. Tomas was a natural born American citizen from Texas who grew up as part of a poor, Spanish speaking family. The youngster was troubled with his inability to speak acceptable English at school. This is before schools became concerned with English as a second language. Tomas suffered through repeated nightmares where he imagined himself being called on in a Texas classroom and berated because he couldn't respond in English.

The Rivera family toiled as agricultural workers. They ranged all over the Midwest during the late 1930s and early 40s. They picked whatever crops needed picking, stayed in lodging often little better than a chicken coop, and then moved on to the next farmer willing to employ them. All members of the family worked. Tomas' family included Tomas' Grandfather, his mother, brother Enrique, and Tomas himself.

Mother Rivera asked that her son walk to the closest town and mail a letter back to Texas. The closest town happened to be Hampton, Iowa. While there, Tomas stumbled onto Hampton's Carnegie Library. Many Midwestern towns (then and now) were recipients of a library gifted by Steelman Andrew Carnegie. A kindly library lady met with young Tomas, carefully folded him under her wing, and imbued him with a love of books while delivering an extended and gentle course in English. An emigrant herself from Germany, the library lady took care to make Tomas feel that he was teaching her Spanish as much as he was learning English.

The kindness of the librarian (whose name has been lost) took, and Tomas became a scholar, an author, a professor, and ultimately chancellor of the University Of California at Riverside until his sudden death from a heart attack at age 48 in 1984. In his memory, a professorship in his name has been established at the University of Texas, several schools have been named in his honor, and the campus library at UC-Riverside is named the Tomas Rivera Memorial Library.

The Coterie retelling of Tomas' story is told in four charming ways. The story is told in Spanish and in English in a manner that teaches what is being said in both languages. It is told through the actions of the characters. And it is told with the assistance of the live art being painted anew during each performance by Artist Papa Grande (Jose Faus). Sr. Faus is also the set designer for this production.

Director Shanara Gabriele has chosen Francisco Javier Villegas as Tomas, Victoria Sofia Botero as Mother Josefa, Tony Pulford as Enrique, and Judy Simmons as the Library lady. This show is obviously a labor of love for all involved. Sra. Botero is basically a musician with a lovely singing voice and a darn good actor. The entire cast joins her in music woven throughout the production with some very nice harmonies. Judy Simmons is the soul of gentleness as Tomas' Iowan mentor. Sr. Faus' inventive set is like a toy transformer truck. Painted scene panels swing down to journey the audience to places forever new.

Playing time for Coterie's "Tomas and the Library Lady" is 55 minutes. It is a perfect for a family outing that exposes children to their first theatrical experience and makes a valuable point about the similarities between all peoples. Young people in the audience buy what the actors are selling. They sit with rapt attention and wide smiles on their faces as they grin from ear to ear.

"Tomas and the Library Lady" continues at The Coterie through March 18th. Tickets are available on the Coterie website, at the box office, or by telephone at 816- 474-6552.

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