The American Southwest Theatre Company and NMSU’s Department of Theatre Arts collaborated on a production of ‘that drive thru monterey’ at the ASNMSU Center for the Arts from Feb. 21 to Mar. 2. The play is based on the true story of playwright Paul Olmos’ mother and was directed by Eva Cullen.
The play occurs in a non-linear format of storytelling. The characters occasionally broke the fourth wall to address the future or to have imaginary conversations. It came at the cost of breaking the suspension of belief. The audience would go from being heavily invested in the conversations between characters and then suddenly, the lights would change, and there would be new information given to the audience that would add to the preexisting conflicts.
The cast featured only five actors: the main character Monterey played by Daniela Galloso, her first husband Maximiliano by Miguel Martinez, her big sister Lydia by Athena McPeake, her second husband Lazaro by Erick Granillo, and her mom Lupe played by Okalani Ventura. All other characters in the play are acknowledged and interacted with but invisible to the audience.
This took some getting used to because it was like the actors were interacting with an imaginary friend, which could have left the audience feeling left out of the conversation. However, the actor’s performances and skills were able to perfectly fill in viewers on the missing dialogue.
The story begins with Olmos’ mom, Monterey, in California during the 1970s. Monterey is a nursing student at California State University dreaming of owning her own car and visiting the city she was named after.
While studying in the library, she meets Maximiliano, and the two begin flirting. Eventually, they go on a date. Their relationship progresses, but the latter is drafted into the Vietnam War. As a last-minute decision and sweet declaration of love, the couple gets married before Maximiliano departs.
Maximiliano becomes injured during basic training and falls into a coma due to being overworked. Monterey, Lydia, and Maximiliano’s family come to visit him in the hospital before he passes away. In an emotional final confrontation between Monterey and Maximiliano, Monterey begs him to stay as his soul leaves.
After returning home, Monterey is severely depressed over the loss of her first husband and the military’s seemingly disregarding attitude toward the situation. She blames the military for her husband’s death and proclaims a hatred for the entire system.
This part of the play shows the importance of love, family, and community. When Monterey falls in love with Maximiliano only to have him suddenly yanked from her arms, it is her family who steps up to care for her. It is only with the caring and loving support of her mother and sister that Monterey is able to go back to school and regain her life.
One day, while out dancing with Lydia, Monterey meets Lazaro, who goes by Laz. He seems to be the complete opposite of the first man she fell in love with and, despite their concerning signs of incompatibility, the two begin dating. After a tense and disastrous first meeting between Laz and Monterey’s parents, they continue their relationship and get married.
Shortly after, Laz shows signs of aggression toward Monterey and neglects her when he becomes angry over the smallest things. The situation only gets worse once the husband and wife welcome their two sons into this world, whom Laz treats harshly.
Monterey breaks the fourth wall to inform the audience what becomes of Laz. He ends up old, alone, and unloved because of his actions. Monterey remains hopeful for her own future and her sons’.
It’s clear Monterey never truly loved Laz as much as her first husband, Maximiliano. Laz was the complete opposite in all the wrong ways. He interrupted her, wasn’t as chivalrous, and had a much shorter temper. This play handled the topic of domestic abuse well. Monterey wanted so badly for her sons to have a father figure to look up to that she couldn’t bring herself to leave Laz’s side. It is that feeling of helplessness that gave her the audience’s sympathy.
Then, in a surprising reappearance, Maximiliano returns to have one last conversation with Monterey. They talk about her children, the sorrow of her sister and father’s passing, and how her youngest son discovered their relationship. It is in this moment that the audience realizes that it is Olmos who has written this emotional rollercoaster of a story about his mother.
After the couple ends their conversation, Monterey looks out into the distance, takes a heavy sigh, and walks away. The further she walked away the more sorrow the audience felt as they watched her approach her future.
As the cast returned to the stage for the curtain call, the audience erupted in applause and joyous cheers of acclaim for the small cast of talented performers. As spectators left the performing arts center, murmurs followed suit, laced with all the sad, confused, and thoughtful emotions the play brought out in viewers followed by questions about Monterey’s future.
