(Un)Documents

Reviewed by Joseph Klink
Latino Theater Company – The Los Angeles Theatre Center
Through November 20th

RECOMMENDED

 There is a responsibility in understanding the value of our freedom; yet, why are we still allowing systems that fail immigrants to decide the cost of theirs? Every day, I hear stories filled with heartbreak and resilience that do not seem to reach the ears of the powers that be. I have faith in this country because with these stories I also see change in the people that are telling them. These people, their stories, are greater than themselves. They are heritage, they are solidarity, they are understanding and they are the solution.

(Un)Documents is an intimate, personal story of being torn back and forth across two sides of a river, and the many painful memories that a family has endured to find peace. Jesús I. Valles is the playwright- performer, and they nearly bare it all. Directed by Rudy Ramirez, Valles takes the audience on a lyrical journey through their relationships with their family, exploring queer identity, and an unyielding demand to assimilate. The language is poetry, and set amongst projected images of their family and past, Valles really takes you there. Perhaps most importantly, through moments that reflect the many sides of their identity, this work is accessible for everyone. We may not have had these experiences, or perhaps you or someone you care about has, but Valles shows us that our hearts cannot be deafened by virtue of our freedom. This show is raw and it speaks a truth that we all need to hear.

Latino Theater Company, performing at The Los Angeles Theatre Center, 514 S. Spring St., Los Angeles, CA 90013; Runs October 14 through November 20, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 pm, Sundays at 4:00 pm. Running time: one hour with no intermission. 
www.latinotheaterco.org/undocuments