Displaying items by tag: Eddie Martinez

From the moment BOTH starts, the play demands attention. Flashing lights, sirens, and the sounds of heavy breathing build as Xochi (Paloma Nozicka) locks herself inside, trying to shut out the world. She just lost her twin brother, and nothing will be the same.

Co-presented by Teatro Vista Productions and Steppenwolf Theatre Company, BOTH is a gripping thriller that weaves humor, trauma, and terror. Is truth important, it asks, when a lie seems to be the fix?

Years after the tragedy, Xochi is now expecting a child with her doting boyfriend, Sam (Brian King) and anxiously awaiting the arrival of her family at her baby shower. Her relationships with her mother (Charin Alvarez) and brother (Eddie Martinez) are strained due to their loss and her “fictional” novel, which is actually a thinly veiled account of her rough childhood.

Xochi isn’t apologetic about it though. To her, you are either good, or you’re a liar. But her conviction is a bludgeon to those around her who need “their truth” to sugar-coat the past, their addiction, their motives, or the reality of what happened to Xochi’s twin - is he dead or only missing?

Xochi is confident that he died... until he crashes the party. Is this man (Yona Moises Olivares) actually Sebastian or someone pretending to be him?

As the lead and playwright, Nozicka is a commanding presence who gives her character intelligence and grit as she stands her ground as the walls close in on her. Olivares is a good foil for her, bouncing between sweet and sinister effortlessly, making one question what is real. What truly makes this piece work though is the intricate, flesh-out performances from the entire ensemble. Their complexity makes them feel tangible, perhaps even evoking one’s only family members.

One important character not mentioned yet is the beach house. The beach house set, designed by Sotirios Livaditis, is pristine and almost too perfect at first glance—an immaculate showroom of a life Xochi desperately wants to hold together. But as Xochi’s emotions spill over, the home takes on a life of its own. It serves as the perfect backdrop as black‑and‑white muddies into gray and control melts into chaos.

Georgette Verdin’s sure, intuitive direction threads humor, dread, and heartbreak together, allowing the play’s deeper emotional currents to resonate fully. BOTH is part Ordinary-People and part Rosemary’s-Baby. While the end does leave a bit to be desired given the play’s sharp execution, it still satisfies and leaves the audience questioning what the truth is as they unravel the mystery.

Teatro Vista and Steppenwolf have built a steady creative partnership in recent seasons, with Teatro Vista serving as a resident company in Steppenwolf’s 1700 Theater. The collaboration pairs Steppenwolf’s institutional reach with Teatro Vista’s commitment to Latine storytelling, resulting in annual productions that spotlight new voices and ambitious work. BOTH is yet another worthwhile entry in that partnership, reflecting the shared investment both companies have made in developing bold, ensemble‑driven theater.

BOTH runs at Steppenwolf Theatre until May 10, 2026.

This review is proudly shared with our friends at www.TheatreInChicago.com.  

Set in Chicago’s mythical 51st Ward, Rightlynd is an absolute lark – but with serious underpinnings. It’s a cautionary rendition of that age-old political maxim: power corrupts.

Rightlynd also doubles as a romantic comedy with a healthy dose of musical (ala Hamilton). Set in Chicago’s mythical 51st Ward, a section of the city whose governing alderman has been reelected for years on autopilot, quietly collecting his paycheck and not making waves.

The Rightlynd area has drifted into that political vacuum where city services are scarce, the L stops were closed, and businesses struggle. While the incumbent alderman appears to be asleep at the wheel, in reality he is negotiating to surrender Rightlynd to a developer group ) that wants to make it the “next neighborhood,” represented by Applewood (Jerome Beck in a breakthrough performance – he is great). That’s a familiar story to Chicagoans who are watching high-profile developments – The 78, Lincoln Yards, and the Presidential Library – part of the continuum of projects over the decades.

Regardless of the merits of these current initiatives, community activists will often be found to characterize such efforts as draining potential investment resources away from improvements for more needy areas – the Chicago’s numerous Rightlynd neighborhoods that never get a dime.

By taking an entertaining approach, playwright Ike Holter has figured out how to tell this story without being ponderous. Instead Rightlynd the play is sprightly and effervescent.

The plot follows the political awakening of Nina (Monica Orozco is a powerhouse, perfectly cast!) who begins with a modest effort to slow cars at an intersection on her street. Acting as our Everyman, we watch her journey from this simple zoning request, to passing petitions to get herself on the ballot and then elected as Alderman.

Nina finds running for office is different than running the office, and we watch as she gradually makes concessions to the reality of the streets – including negotiating with gangs and with developers. The election stopped Applewood from its development plans, for a time, but they come back and win influence over the office. "All be need is an open hand and a turned eye," Applewood says. 

Along the way, Nina meets up with a down-on-his-luck ex-con Pac, and the two go from politics to love item. Pac even refused a bus ticket when he was released from jail, preferring to stay in his old neighborhood, Rightlynd. Eddie Martinez plays Pac with sensitivity and panache, and the Martinez-Orozco pairing forms a delightful dynamic duo to energize and add dimension to the show – though at times this subplot threatens to overwhelm the main storyline.

The delightful supporting cast includes Sasha Smith as a Gal Friday for the alderman; Robert Cornelius as Robinson, who operates a garage (where Pac works); and LaKecia Harris as Amena, who lives on the streets.

Along with Anish Jethmalani as Benny, these cast members double in the roles of Denizen – forming the crowds, voters, and other singing and dancing performers that act as the Chorus – both in terms of Greek dramatic traditions, and as a singing-dancing chorus line. A shout-out to Cornelius for his wonderful baritone and to Sasha Smith, whose beautiful energy could easily power a stage all by herself.

Rightlynd is highly recommended. It runs through December 23 at the Victory Gardens Theater at the Biograph.