Family, Immigration and American Identity

Hundreds and Hundreds of Stars

TimeLine Theatre’s 29th Season kicks off with a captivating new play that feels especially important and of the moment. Multitalented Actress Sandra Delgado’s World Premiere of HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF STARS is about the collision of motherhood, marijuana and the multiverse. And although the play is set in Chicago in 2015, the Playwright has penned a dramatic story that’s as timely as today’s headlines. It’s a moving, often humorous tale about family, immigration and American identity. But, true to TimeLine’s mission, this story demonstrates how history connects us with the social and political issues of today. HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF STARS mirrors the many incidents from today’s news about immigrant families being heartlessly torn apart by the government.

Clara is a single, recently divorced mother. The hardworking young woman is doing her very best to keep the lives of her family and herself balanced and moving forward. Clara’s raising a precocious, twelve-year-old daughter named Stella. She’s also self-appointed caregiver for her aging father, Papi, especially since the recent death of her mother. Clara’s also paying alimony to David, her estranged husband, with whom she and Stella are still extremely close; however Stella’s devoted father hasn’t been able to find a job that can hold his attention. And then, to make matters worse, after many years at the same company, Clara’s unexpectedly lost her job due to economic downsizing. What more can go wrong?

After putting it off for several years, Clara has decided to take the next step and apply to the Government for her citizenship. This devoted mother has promised her daughter a trip to Paris, despite being financially stressed. However, in order to secure passports for herself and her daughter, it’s necessary for Clara to be granted her United States citizenship. Just when it feels like her life may finally be on a positive track, Clara’s application for citizenship is flagged for a couple of past minor offenses. Suddenly the loving and devoted Latina-born mother is facing deportation, due to a technicality.

The production is creatively staged and sensitively guided by acclaimed Chicago Director Kimberly Senior. Ms. Senior is known for such past TimeLine productions as MY NAME IS ASHER LEV and ALL MY SONS, among others. Kimberly has also directed all over the country, including the Broadway production of the Pulitzer Prize-winning drama, DISGRACED. Kimberly Senior can also boast a long history of collaborations with Sandra Delgado, although HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF STARS marks the first time that Ms. Delgado, Kimberly Senior and TimeLine Theatre have all come together in one production. Adding to the expressionistic staging of this play, Raquel Torre has Choreographed many moments of stylized, liquid movement that take this play beyond traditional storytelling. 

Sandra Delgado is a fireball—a theatrical Force of Nature. Portraying Clara, the gifted actress almost never leaves the stage during the course of this 90-minute one-act. She makes the audience feel deeply and relate emotionally to her character. Theatergoers empathetically experience Clara’s love for her family, her gnawing frustration with the system and her desperation to keep everyone safe and happy. The emotion that Ms. Delgado elicits from her audience is definitely palpable and is, without a doubt, the actress/playwright’s greatest achievement with this play.

The supporting cast is equally talented. Beginning with an emotionally affecting and totally realistic portrayal of Stella, Charlotte Arias is fantastic. She brilliantly plays a likable tween-ager who’s simply trying to balance the many events of her young life with the devastating problems that face her family. Charlotte has been seen at Drury Lane as Tiny Tim in A CHRISTMAS CAROL, among other theatrical roles. Ms. Arias alternates this role with young Simona Gueglio-Saccone, at certain performances.

 At the opening night performance, talented understudy Joshua David Thomas stepped in to portray cousin Ruben (a role usually played by Donovan Marquis Diaz). Mr. Thomas has become one of my favorite young Chicagoland actors, since appearing recently as Tyler, in Citadel Theatre’s wonderful A JUKEBOX FOR THE ALGONQUIN. I was happy to see him again. He plays Ruben with a humorous, natural quality that makes him a comforting presence and counterpoint for Clara. Clearly, Ruben is her closest friend and, as a nursing student, her supplier of marijuana gummies that help his cousin cope with many of life’s challenges.

Rounding out the cast are three talented actors, all making their TimeLine debuts. Brian King creates a strong presence as Clara’s divorced, laidback ex-husband and Stella’s loving father. He’s eager to offer solutions to Clara’s problems when she simply needs someone to just listen to her. Also making his TimeLine debut, Ramon Camin is a sweet, but slightly befuddled elderly man as Clara’s Papi. The aging widower still believes he that sees his loving, recently departed wife among the stars, so Clara takes it upon herself to be sure that her father’s feeling well, eating healthy and being cared for. And another very talented, charismatic and often enjoyed Chicago actress is making her first appearance at TimeLine. Lovely Charin Alvarez is, as always, wonderful, both as Chava and as Immigration Lawyer, Ms. Vega. Seen in so many excellent productions, such as Steppenwolf’s HOME WHAT HOWLS, the Goodman’s INHERIT THE WIND, Remy Bumppo’s ANNA IN THE TROPICS and the excellent dramatic staging of ESPERANZA RISING at Chicago Children’s Theatre. Ms. Alverez brightly shines once again in this production.

Regina Garcia’s created a unique and beautiful Scenic Design. It offers a semi-circular playground, on which Ms. Delgado’s story can be told. The play moves forward without much in the way of props or scenic change. In addition, Ms. Garcia’s versatile setting also harbors secret doors and cubbies, in which to hide necessary objects, while providing a blank canvas for Christine A. Binder’s extraordinary Lighting Design. The brilliance of Ms. Binder’s work is paired with an amalgam of gorgeous Projections, Designed by Eme Ospina-López .

Amidst the current horrifying illegal crackdown of persons in Chicago from other countries, Sandra Delgado’s lyrical play about is as timely now, as when the play was set. Although there are many moments of humor and laughter, this is often a sad story that evokes profound empathy. It’s pays homage to all the admirable, stalwart individuals who’ve come to this country, not to commit crimes or create problems, but to achieve a better life for themselves and their families. 

If audiences leave this lovely production thinking they’ve simply been entertained, they’ve missed much of what Sandra Delgado has to say. This is a very important play about our immigration tragedy, especially in Chicago, that’s been made even worse by the current Administration. HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF STARS speaks volumes about family, immigration and American identity. It also exposes the ridiculous  amount of red tape required for an immigrant to secure citizenship, an unfortunate dilemma that’s still occurring in America today.               

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

Presented October 8-November 9 by TimeLine Theatre Company at Lookingglass Theatre, 821 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago.

Tickets are available at the box office, by calling the TimeLine box office at 773-281-8463 x6 or by visiting www.timelinetheatre.com.

Additional information about this and other area productions can be found by visiting www.theatreinchicago.com.