Part drama, half cabaret, with a sexy splash of poetry—Gala Theater’s world premier of Agustin Lara: Boleros & Blues is a juicy and tender account of Mexico’s beloved composer.
Civilians and diplomats rubbed shoulders with Argentine director, producer and writer, Gabriel Garcia, last Saturday to watch his interpretation of the life and music of El Flaco de Oro, or the “Skinny Man of Gold.” Boleros & Blues follows Agustin Lara from the Mexican revolution to the British musical invasion of the 60s. Vignettes of Lara’s life are beefed up with starry-eyed ballads—a proper soundtrack to any Latin-lover fantasy. And with his own torrent of women, Lara was a lustful Latin-lover in his own right. He swooned and seduced, winning hearts with his music, charm, and poetry. His face was scarred by a beer bottle thrown at him by a (rightfully) angry woman. He went through four wives, including Maria Felix, Mexico’s spicier Marilyn Monroe. Boleros & Blues bridges the gap between these affairs and the dreamy melodies and lyrics they produced.
Tango singer and dashingly suave Nelson Pino serenades the audience with his deep, warm baritone. Anamer Castillo is the talented prima donna of the show, belting out gooey melodies with a calming, round alto voice. Together, their voices hamoniously flirt in the richly textured duet, Solamente Una Vez. Meanwhile, costume designer Marcella Villanueva glamoursly decks out the actors in satin, feathers, diamonds and pearls.
The show is made up of blurry, but bright fragments that paint only a fuzzy portrait of a multicolored Mexican icon. If you’re looking for a musical biography, Boleros & Blues leaves a lot to be desired. However, Garcia’s nebulous brush strokes do succeed in capturing the vibrant music and drama of Lara’s life.
