Synopsis
This wildly funny play tells the story of Maria, a young, precocious Latina aspiring to be an actor, and her dream of going to college. The story begins in Mexico with Maria's parents eloping. Maria is born, and shortly after they leave for the U.S. her father, Ricardo, tells Maria that in America, with an education, she can have the American dream. Maria believes him and studies hard. However, when she tells her parents she wants to go to college, they order her to get married instead. Maria is so upset she cries herself to sleep and has a nightmare in which her American self and her Mexican self wrestle with each other. She gets married and gives birth to six babies. Her wedding dress attacks her and a giant tortilla squashes her. Maria is awakened by her mother's crying and overhears her confronting Ricardo about his affairs. Maria is shocked by the news and realizes she has to go to college in order to be economically independent of men and have the life that she wants, one that combines the best of her two worlds.
Details
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Status
In stock
- Type of Show Full-length Play
- Product Code SB4000
- Cast Size 10
- Min. Royalty Rate $90/perf
- Cost $10.95
- Approx. Run Time 50 min
Categories
- Target Audience High School
- Performing Group High School | College Theatre | Community Theatre | Professional Theatre
- Genre Comedy | Satire
- ISBN(13) 9780871297235
Customer Reviews
- "Simply Maria or the American Dream is a play about a Mexican family and their external conflicts with each other dealing with their idealistic perspective of what a Hispanic woman should do with her life. Josefina Lopez wonderfully does this through comic, yet dramatic scenes."
- Review by Jacqueline Sanchez, Barbara Goleman Senior High School, Miami, FL
- "What a wonderful, wacky show! The most remarkable discovery came when realizing how little has changed in 25 years!! Much of our community recognized characters and situations!"
- Review by Layle Chambers, Dona Ana Community College, Las Cruces, N.M.
- "This is the second time we have staged this show, and it was just as much fun the second time."
- Review by Diana Torres, Americo Paredes Middle School, Austin, Texas
