Remembering Boyle Heights 

Reviewed by Lara J. Altunian 
CASA 0101 Theater 
Through December 16 

RECOMMENDED 

A neighborhood’s current cultural identity can easily eclipse its history into obscurity. However, what often shapes a city’s character is the development of its barrios and districts over time. They add value not only through their present-day community, but also through decades-worth contributions of varied dreams and ideas that build upon the region’s foundation.

Josefina López, Corky Dominguez, and the play’s ensemble, Remembering Boyle Heights, uses the neighborhood’s struggle with gentrification as a jumping off point to reveal its history. Because Boyle Heights is known for its mostly-Latinx population, CASA 0101 Theater’s concentration on the town’s origin as “The Ellis Island of the West” (as López has coined it) is an interesting and unexpected topic for the unschooled. Though historically informative, artful storytelling keeps the facts from sounding like an encyclopedic list.

The production begins with a fifteen-minute pre-show, which takes place in the Jean Deleage Gallery, located within the theater’s lobby. There, details of the neighborhood’s history are showcased in an exhibit curated by The Boyle Heights Museum and titled: “ROYBAL: A Multi-Racial Catalyst for Democracy”. Performer Ángel Júarez’s brilliant vocals accompany local mothers, artists and mariachi players tell their stories of how gentrification has affected their day-to-day lives.

Once the doors to the theater open and audience members are ushered in to an immersive town meeting. Several cast members, wearing Brechtian masks and signs defining them as an “activist”, “historian” or “developer”, dispute with one another about Boyle Heights’ future. Each states their perspective, arguing whether to modernize the area with new, better homes, or preserve it for historical value and as a way to keep it affordable for its current citizens.

A tour guide leads viewers through several “stops” wherein the city’s narrative flows from the turn of the 20^th century through World War II. The first stop begins with a brief historical reconnaissance of the land’s history, from the presence of indigenous Tongva and through the region’s conversion into Mexico until it became a part of the United. The final stop concludes with a look at the cemetery those buried there. A diverse collection of stories cover a variety of topics. There are stories about Mexican citizens’ displacement to Mexico in the 1920s; local landmark Canter’s Deli (est. 1931), and the Jewish population that created and grew up around it; the rise of African American citizens who relocated for better job opportunities; and Japanese families that moved there from Little Tokyo, but were temporarily displaced into internment camps in 1942.

Although the back-and-forth ’20s to ’40s timeline shift was a little tricky to grasp at the beginning, its execution was solid and the actors’ vibrancy enough to construct a vivid show, despite all of the hiccups. Charming and personal the ensemble’s variety in performance style and their various characters help bring the stories to life. However, one distinct point of criticism is how many of the company members consistently tripped on their dialogue. This was a problem that reared its ugly head at least once per scene, and had the ability to pull viewers out of the otherwise engaging show.

In addition to sharp writing, Dominguez’s direction transports audience members back in time. César Retana-Holguín’s simple set, complete with a few purposely askew pieces of art reflecting historical buildings, along with Masha Tatarinsteva’s projection design was enough to paint a portrait of a town one may find themselves wishing to have grown up in by the end of the evening.

CASA 0101 Theater, 2102 E. 1^st St., Boyle Heights; Sat., 7:45 p.m.; Sat., Dec. 15, 2:45 p.m.; Sun., 4:45 p.m.; through Dec. 16. (323) 263-7684 or https://www.casa0101.org/shows/remembering-boyle-heights. Running time: one hour and 45 minutes with no intermission.