Playwright: Karen Zacarías. At: Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn. Phone: 312-443-3800; $20-$71. Runs through July 25
There's a lot in the Goodman Theatre's production of Karen Zacaría's The Sins of Sor Juana that should be of interest LGTBQ audiences. It's too bad that the play itself proves to be a disappointment.
First off, The Sins of Sor Juana's subject matter is one that should intrigue fans of women's history. The title character, Juana Ines de la Cruz, is one of Mexico's most famous female poets—all the more remarkable since she was a nun who initially defied the male hierarchy to publish her work during Spain's Golden Age in the 1600s.
Then there's the TV-celebrity factor. Malaya Rivera Drew ( Adele Channing on The L Word ) stars in the title role, while Tony Plana ( the dad on Ugly Betty ) portrays two roles: the jealous Viceroy and the agonized Padre Nunez, who bears the terrible news that Sor Juana must stop writing poetry.
Other plusses about the Goodman production include Todd Rosenthal's gorgeous Spanish colonial cloistered set ( save for that plastic orb of a moon that descends in the second act ) and other production elements like Mina Hyun-ok Hong's lush period costumes and Joseph Appelt's moody lighting design.
But no matter how pretty the production is under Henry Godinez's direction, it doesn't answer the question why so much attention was lavished on Zacarías' mediocre play which waffles between farce, magical realism, melodrama and screed about the evils of women's subjugation.
Since very little is known about the title character's history before she became a nun, Zacarías cooks up a rather ridiculous one that allows Sor Juana to have a passionate ( yet chaste ) affair via flashback. And since Sor Juana's sexuality is also up for debate, Zacarías throws in a few same-sex kisses that feel more tacked-on instead of being integral to the plot.
Another annoying factor of Zacarías' play is the instant deference that borders on hagiography whenever another character reads Sor Juana's poetry. Like many a play on historical people, Zacarías' play falls into the trap of having other characters ( and Sor Juana herself ) overproclaiming the writer's genius pre-prosperity.
Even with the muddled play, several actors still get in some good character turns that get plenty of laughs. Joe Minoso is fun as the fop Don Pedro, while Laura Crotte's salt-of-the-earth servant Xochitl proves invaluable ( despite the extra mystical mumbo-jumbo Zacarías throws in ) .
The Sins of Sor Juana is a disappointment, and it's too bad that it holds such a prominent place as the main stage production of the Goodman's fifth biennial Latino Theatre Festival. Here's hoping that a better play occupies that space in two years' time.
