‘Latins’ Looks at Cultural Archetypes

In her review of “Latins Anonymous” at South Coast Repertory (“Events Move Too Fast for ‘Latins Anonymous,’ ” Calendar, June 22), Sylvie Drake wrote that she was disappointed we did not address the Los Angeles riots--in a show that was scheduled nine months before the uprising occurred.

Latins Anonymous is not an improv group creating material in response to this week’s news, a la Second City. Our shows are fully costumed, staged and choreographed, and take months to prepare. In this particular show, we seek to explore cultural archetypes and identity, not current events. If and when we seek to address the uprising, we will. In the meantime, Drake is obliged to review what is on stage, not what she wants to see.

But why the assumption that we must rewrite a show to address the riots? Because we are Latino? Must Alan Ayckbourn rewrite “Woman in Mind” to address the riots? Must David Hare rewrite “Map of the World”?

Drake goes on to say that we should “take a cue” from Culture Clash. Why? Because we are both Latino? Should Spike Lee take a cue from John Singleton? Should Neil Simon take a cue from David Mamet? Drake’s perspective is segregative and limiting.

She cites a joke apparently to give an example of why the humor doesn’t work. The scene is a Latins Anonymous 12-step meeting, and a Latina in denial is pretending to be French. It’s “funnier as a lampoon of disorder groups in general,” Drake writes. That should be praise. Why not allow our humor to touch universal references? Why complain that it is lacking because it is not funny in a purely Latino context? Drake erects a wall between our satire and “mainstream” targets.

Drake concludes that it is time for Latins Anonymous “to do more than just rehearse.” In addition to this revival, we are workshopping a new evening of comedy. A new play, “Alamo U.S.A.,” recently had a staged reading at the Taper. And we have written a pilot for Universal.

In terms of the work at hand, we have done this show successfully in five regional theaters. Orange County audiences are responding with as much laughter and enthusiasm as the others. The things Drake finds “dog-earred,” this audience seems to find hilarious.