A Cuban prostitute, a Mexican border patrol officer, an obsessive beauty pageant winner and other characters kicked off Hispanic Heritage month.
The Latinologues were performed by a Chicago-based company Friday in the Kellogg Center Auditorium.
Students packed the seats of the auditorium - even though the performers of the show arrived on campus more than 30 minutes late.
The writer of the show, Rick Najera, attributed the tardiness to a cultural flaw.
“Latinos are always late,” he said to loud laughter in the audience. The impromptu comedy was a recurring theme throughout the night’s show.
“We come in every shape and color, we Latinos,” he said. “Right now there’s some Latinos somewhere in the country trying to make more Latinos.”
Actors in the show were from Havana, Columbia, Puerto Rico and Mexico.
“We’re the Latino rainbow,” Najera said. “I believe it should be the full Latino experience.”
Najera also was a writer for the Fox prime time show “In Living Color.”
Economics freshman Leslie Kerchmar said she decided to see the show in an attempt to diversify herself.
“It’s something different than partying and whatnot,” she said. “It’s early enough so you can go out and do something afterward.”
Kerchmar came to see a comedy show, but the monologues weren’t all laughter. They touched on issues of gangs, violence, and the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Political science junior Waseam Azmen said he enjoyed the variation in the skits.
“I thought it was going to be comedy, but it was more,” he said. “It was cool.”
Premedical freshman Jonathan Parra agreed the show was entertaining, but he enjoyed the comedy most of all.
His favorite part of the show was the monologue performed as the Cuban prostitute, “just because she was crazy.”
Najera and the rest of the cast fielded questions from the audience after the show concluded.
“Every character comes from Latinos I don’t think have a voice,” he said.
The cast encouraged students at the event to find Latino shows and support them.
“Latino theater does exist,” Najera said. “But it has to be nurtured and cultivated. We are a tribal community. You make it happen. Make sure you’re there to pack the theaters.”
