How far are you willing to go for your dreams? What if by accomplishing those dreams you end up hurting those you love? In La Egoísta the pursuit of personal happiness is challenged when two sisters have a full circle moment of what being a caregiver is and how extremely complicated getting back to life really is.
What to Know before you go
Like with any theatre show make sure you arrive in plenty of time to find your seat. I would suggest to arrive at least 30 or so minutes before so that if you are driving you can find parking or use one of the nearby lots. Thankfully when I went I was dropped off so that shaved off time. The Suzanne Roberts Theatre has a great lobby for you to relax in before the show and that includes snacks at the concession stand. You can bring your food and drinks that are purchased at the concession in. Just be mindful to open them before the production start to eliminate the noise. The show runs about an hour and a half with no intermission.
There is strong language used in this production. It is suggested for ages 15 and up. I would follow that protocol. There are adult themes discussed as well so use that as your advisory.
The Battle of the Sisters: Josefina vs. Betsaida
Josefina is a stand up comedian. She is very what others would call raunchy. She says what she thinks and doesn’t make apologies. When she is on the stage she draws inspiration from her own life. Dating, losing her mother recently, nothing is off limits. Betsaida is a devout Jehovah Witness. She is living her life to the calling when she in the midst of her mother’s death draws close to God, her congregants, and is all in with aiding her mom in her last days. These two sisters are complete opposites in the way they choose to live their lives. So what could bring these two sisters together? The death of their mom was hard on both. Many could say that Betsaida might be the one who took things the hardest as she was the caretaker. However both have their issues but Josefina bruises are skin deep.
Mother Issues
I have said this before and I will say this again, the battles in which oldest daughters have to fight is real. From being unjustly made to be a second parent to having your life judged from all angels, the oldest daughter is the toughest of soldiers. A lot of moms are not emotionally intelligent to take on the responsibility of raising children. Although I didn’t catch what the dynamics were I do know that we see the scars as Josefina uses comedy as a medicine for healing. One thing I am proud of is the way in which Josefina is portrayed in handling her mother’s death. I don’t think anyone has a right to judge how one handles death. But to know that she set some boundaries on getting back to her life is applaudable and realistic.
We don’t talk about the pain that mothers have on their daughters enough. I saw a few folks clutch their imaginary pearls. However those who unfortunately know, know.
Religion and La Egoísta
I do know that religion plays a huge role in how we interact in life and with others. I am a preacher’s kid. So growing up was a wild ride. When Betsaida got sick and needed her sister to help it was so real to me. When I was 12 years old I got sick and had an intestinal infection. The amount of pain I was in made no sense. However I who was a Non-Denominational Christian was still expected to be performative even against doctor’s orders for me to rest and heal. So many times there can be a misguided view point when it comes to the way in which we use religion to focus on God but we don’t invest as much as we should in relationships unless that person does all of the things that we agree with.
Selfishness or Freeing in La Egoísta
The way in which Josefina dropped everything to help her sister who like her mother or because of her mother treated her was commendable. I love seeing people pursue their dreams against all odds. However towards the end it all came down to one thing, do you drop your life to help your family or do you find a way to make it work so you don’t end up in a land of regret.
You will definitely have to see what Josefina chooses. What I can say is no matter what path you think you would take, make sure to take the heart of La Egoísta with you. Take in what works for you in your life regardless if you have a legion of people agreeing with you. Also take on the way in which you show up for your family as much as you can without it being a detriment to you.
What a great Production
The director, Tatyana-Marie Carlo did an excellent job on making sure to convey the mix of emotions. This was so close to real life. Even if you don’t have the same upbringing there’s no way you won’t “see” yourself on the stage. The Playwright, Erlina Ortiz did such a powerful dialogue between utilizing flashbacks and more. The entire cast deserves their flowers. The Creative team did a great job of bringing to “life” the use of puppets that represented what each sister needed or desired at the time as a speaking point to the crowd.
Thank you to the staff of the Philadelphia Theatre Company for having me at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre located at 480 South Broad Street in Philadelphia PA. A special thank you to En Route Marketing for having me as well. Get your tickets as it is scheduled to end this weekend on October 20, 2024
