William Joad is your man’s man. Hardworking with old school American values in tow – the good and that bad. When terminally-ill William decides to find the sole heir of his family farm, the ugly side of his value rears its ugly head. Finding out that the sole surviving descendant of his proud family is Martín Jodes, a Mexican-American with a very upbringing, sends William into a frenzy and makes for good chemistry between the two.
This chemistry brings humor, trials and forces the two to reckon with the positives and and negative aspects of their pasts. The two travel from California to the family farm in Oklahoma and encounter racism, bias, joy, knee-slapping humor … while also realizing that they are strong together supporting each other at odds.
Some of the highlights were the use of humans as props – very humorous and a creative way to grab tiny bits of the audience’s attention during what is one of the longer productions running – and the music that was enjoyable while adding to the story.
As the release states, “This powerful new play, written by playwright Octavio Solis (El Paso Blue, Quixote), examines the crossroads of family, immigration and the American dream.”
Arena Stage’s Mother Road is indeed a journey of freedom – a freedom of thought, freedom fro being trapped by the ills of the past and a freedom to create the type of future that is both desired and deserved.
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Mother Road: Directed by Bill Rauch and written by Octavio Solis. Starring With David Anzuelo, Natalie Camunas, Ted Deasy and Derek Garza. Tickets: $41-95 and it runs for about 2 hours and 40 minutes and goes through March 8 at Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW. 202-488-3300. www.arenastage.org.
Capitol Media USA 
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