BWW Reviews: First Stage LUCHADORA! Wrestles with Human Super Heroes to Win Fans

First Stage's World Premiere LUCHADORA! introduces the world of lucha Libre, or Mexican sport wrestling, to Milwaukee this spring in an exciting play were the thumps and bumps against the ring ropes thrill the audience. Playwright Alvaro Saar Rios relates a multi-layered story based on the cultural heritage and legacy of the Mexican phenomena lucha Libre where the wrestlers behind individually created face masks and costumes become human super heroes for legions of fans.

Scenic Designer Sarah Hunt-Frank's realistic elements conjure the wrestling world by centering an actual boxing ring constructed from a kit on the set, while layering fascinating posters on the stage facade created by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee art students to capture the explosive matches headed by El Hijo, the larger than life in his costume, Dan Katula. Festive paper cuttings named papel picado imagined by Bruce-Guadaupe Middle School hang as banners from the Todd Wehr Theater ceiling in this collective community effort to embody the lucha libre environment with excitement.

Enriching this Mexican heritage, Saar Rios creates an intergenerational conflict between Vanessa, a young woman striving to become a boxer and her grandmother, Nana Lupita, who retells how she was raised by her father, the former lucha libre wrestler named Mascara Rosa. When Vanessa discovers a pink mask (the meaning to the mysterious Mascara Rosa name) in her grandmother's secret trunk, Nana Lupita reveals this feminine connection to to lucha lIbre, which inspires the injured Vanessa.

In the Sandia (another name for watermelon) Cast on a Sunday afternoon, Young Performer Bree Kazinski demonstrates tomboyish appeal playing the younger Lupita. Well recognized Milwaukee actor David Flores adds authenticity and warmth to the role of Lupita's father while debut actor Lucinda Johnston gives the audience a spirited Nana worthy to wear the "Mascara Rosa."

As the quizzical Vanessa, Lizzie Borg begs her Nana Lupita to tell her the secrets hidden in the pink mask, while several other Young Performers, Lizzie Porter, Claire Zempel and Gavin Rangel, give accomplished performances as friends supporting the young Lupita in her quest to reach Milwaukee, the city of white gold, or cream city brick architecture. Michelle Lopez-Rios impresses the young Lupita as the Mask Maker, mentor to Lupita and her father before Mascara Rosa's world championship rematch with El Hijo.

While Saar Rios sparks woman to unleash their potential despite what others may say--whether living as boxers, soldiers or wrestlers--the production stresses women can become anything they set their hearts' desire on. Heroes in their own feminine right. However, Saar Rios weaves a tale of heroic migrant workers who picked every fruit and vegetable to eek out a living wage, single fathers who valiantly raise their daughters, friends who aid one another, and the cultural struggle to achieve the so-called American Dream. An action packed story equally relevant whether a youth or adult, young boy or a girl, because these characters' dreams survive through the help of family, friends and mentors.

Perhaps best of all, First Stage's Wisconsin Cycle LUCHADORA! asks the audience to wrestle with their own cultural heritage and dreams to become a real world super hero, to stand up, battle against what others might claim they would be unable to achieve individually and through community. When Saar Rios in his play claims "stories are gifts," he, together the foresight of First Stage, offer a great giftt in performances and new productions to reframe culture, gender issues and an American legacy by empowering young audiences everywhere. Theater for Young (and the young at heart) Audiences where new worlds begin to unfold the secret human super hero hidden in everyone.

First Stage presents the Wisconsin Cycle World Premiere of LUCHADORA! written by Alvaro Saar Rios in the Todd Wehr Theater at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts through April 26. Special lucha libre masks can be purchased in the theater lobby to support First Stage and their new 2015-2016 season. For information on special programming, please call 414.273.7206 or www.firststage.org.

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