La Gringa NYC Reviews and Tickets

86%

(27 Reviews)

Positive

96%

Mixed

Negative

Members say

Funny, Entertaining, Delightful, Absorbing, Great writing

About the Show

Repertorio Espanol presents Carmen Rivera’s iconic play about a woman visiting Puerto Rico, her family's homeland, for the first time performed in Spanish with English subtitles.

Maria Elena Garcia goes to visit her family in Puerto Rico during the Christmas holidays and arrives with plans to connect with her homeland. Although this is her first trip, she has had an intense love for the island and even majored in Puerto Rican Studies in college. Once Maria arrives, she realizes that the islanders do not welcome her with open arms. The majority consider her an American – a gringa - and Maria considers this a betrayal. If she's a Puerto Rican in the United States and an American in Puerto Rico, Maria concludes that she is nobody everywhere. Her uncle, Manolo, spiritually teaches her that identity isn't based on superficial and external definitions, but rather is an essence that she has had all along in her heart.

Member Reviews (27)

Pleasant, Cultural, Delightful, Funny, Enchanting

See it if Seeking her roots, bubbly 22-y.o. Maria visits her aunt's family in PR. Farcical scenes ensue. Light, enjoyable satire w/vocal audience.

Don't see it if You don't speak Spanish & don't like super-titles. You want a more serious drama, rather than a cute romantic slice-of-life.

Relevant, Must see, Great writing, Great acting, Absorbing

See it if You like stories that are so relevant with all that is going on in our world. It's extremely well done.

Don't see it if If you have a hard time reading subtitles in English

No set, Simple, Cute, Funny, Entertaining

See it if you like light comedies, that are simple but yet cute. You enjoy foreign language shows touching questions of ethnic identity.

Don't see it if you expect something profound and serious. You are not into foreign language productions with subtitles. There is no staging whatsoever.

Relevant, Profound, Great writing, Funny, Absorbing

See it if What a great performance!Well-acted&so relevant to what immigrants go through when going back to their own country.

Don't see it if Some jokes resonated more w/ those who better understood PR culture.Bravo2 smart kids from W Hempstead HS who seemed to get it all the way! Read more

Refreshing, Relevant, Intelligent, Great writing, Entertaining

See it if you enjoy a heartwarming story

Don't see it if you do not enjoy theatre in Spanish

Funny, Hilarious, Masterful, Intense, Thought-provoking

See it if you are bilingual or just enjoy crossing cultures in theatre.

Don't see it if you do not have a taste for Puerto Rican humour or strong female leads.

Great acting, Funny, Entertaining, Enchanting, Delightful

See it if you like comedy, Spanish comedy, Spanish Theater

Don't see it if play is in Spanish with English subtitles

Entertaining, Refreshing, Funny, Clever

See it if You are looking for a different type of play that focuses on topics that everyone from Hispanic descent faces one way or another.

Don't see it if You do not like subtitles.

Critic Reviews (1)

For a previous production

“All the characters in ‘La Gringa’ have a strong streak of the ridiculous in them, and it is precisely that quality that makes them familiar and lovable...Rivera has captured the spirit of the Puerto Rican experience...The plot tatters and the story gets emotionally confused in the last 10 minutes as Ms. Rivera tries to bring peace and reconciliation to all. But that is after 90 minutes of laughter, and a delight ratio of 9 to 1 would be a very high score for any theatrical veteran.”
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