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On Nov. 16, the Spanish Club went to the Repertorio Español, an off-Broadway theater located on 27th St. in Manhattan, to watch a cultural and humorous musical alongside their World Language teachers, Señora Buck, Señora Reich and Señor Díaz.
The show, “La Cancion: The Musical,” is about a young man of Dominican ancestry named Rafa, who lives in the Bronx with his grandmother. Rafa is very passionate and loves music. He goes on a mission to discover the origin of a Spanish language song that he had a dream about. Along the way, Rafa coincidently learns about his mother and also his father, the composer of the song.
The musical was incredibly eye-opening because it displayed harsh realities and the importance of family. It centered on relationships, romance, and the character’s enthusiasm for singing and dancing. The audience was able to learn valuable lessons about sharing, letting go and forgiving while being able to enjoy the humorous storyline.
Many Spanish Club members remarked on the ease of understanding the production as well as how enjoyable it was for them.
“I really enjoyed the musical even though I’m not fluent in Spanish. It was easy to understand and had a great storyline,” remarked Noor Zeb.
“It was very interesting and I would definitely go again,” said Thomas Mulhearn, Bleona Abazi and Samia Shivon. “It was a really entertaining experience,” commented Emily Strzebonski and Olivia Swain. “Wholesome experience and lots of fun,” said Catie Owens. “A hoot and a half!” exclaimed Arita Gega.
Club members also expressed their admiration for the performers.
“A touching and relatable story with great actors,” Trey Cabalar noted.
“I thought the show was really funny and had a lot of good singers. Overall, it was a good show,” remarked Carolyn Murray.
“The play was really interesting and enjoyable! I loved the storyline and the actors were entertaining to watch,” said Kaitlyn and Kelly Doyle and Huma Zeb.
“It was different and not a show I would usually watch, but it was very good and I really enjoyed it,” reflected Jaylene Combs, Alexis O’Shall, and Alex Colaizzi.
Sofia Mendoza mentioned that “The small setting made it much more personal and enjoyable!”
Amanda Roberts considered “La Cancion” as “upbeat, fast-paced, and a great production overall.” Bryan Leon commented “It was really emotional and enjoyable.”
The Spanish language teachers also took the time to reflect on this experience.
“An entertaining musical that deals with some of life’s harsh realities versus those we fantasize about presented in such a way that it captivates both Spanish and English audiences with its genial use of Spanglish vocabulary and Latino music,” Mr. Diaz said. “I thoroughly enjoyed what I would call a chapter in a Hispanic telenovela. The storyline was about true-to-life human drama, encompassing the elements of romance, conflict, comedy, and the supernatural.
“I most enjoyed the lessons that were embedded in this pop culture melodrama, including the challenges we face in life and the importance of forgiving,” he added. “Both teens and adults were able to connect to the plot and exit the intimate 50 year old theatre with a happy heart.”
“I was captivated by the talented cast and the entertaining score that was composed by the Puerto Rican ‘reguetonero’ Vico C,” Senora Christina Buck said. “The plot, staging and the overall performance were inspiring! We saw the supporting actor who played the rapper Muerte after the show. The lead actor who portrayed Rafa (Toly Rod of Santo Domingo) left the theater shortly thereafter. I was going to cry when Rafa’s father tried to re-enter the country and could not and at various other points during the musical. There was quite a bit of urban lingo in English, Spanish, and hybrid forms that the audience found hilarious. We hope to see this brilliant cast in future productions at this venue.”
Overall, the Spanish Club was impressed and had a delightful time. Driving to the city and being able to watch the performance was a great experience. A special thank you to our Spanish Club co-advisors Señora Buck and Señora Reich and also to Señor Díaz for taking us!
Huma Zeb is president of the BHS Spanish Club.
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