In "Bad Hombres," playing at San Francisco's Theatre Rhinoceros through October 30, actor Rudy Guerrero plays seven characters that comically ("absurdly," said the solo show's director) skewer stereotypes of queer Latinos.
On this week's Out in the Bay Queer Radio + Podcast, Guerrero serves up slices of four of those characters, and he and director River Bermudez Sanders share their thoughts on Latinx representation in theatre, film, and television.
Sanders said the "Bad Hombres" characters, as penned by playwright Guillermo Reyes, are "so absurd and so, like, so out of pocket ... that it almost lets us reclaim those narratives, lets us take things a little bit less seriously even when [dealing with] really serious issues."
The character Drag Performer, for example, romanticizes and eroticizes deportation. She met border agent "Mr. Reynolds" when she first tried to enter the U.S. during the second Bush administration, when she says she was "practically a child."
He was "the toughest-looking honcho gringo in the Southwest, a quarterback in border patrol uniform. He took me into his arms and then put me on a bus back to Mexico," says Drag Performer through Guerrero's lips. "But what was I to do? Guatemala had revoked my citizenship. As a kid, I was much too fabulous already for Guatemala. The local women used to consult me about color coordination.
"When I met Mr. Reynolds, I realized forced removal can be erotic," she continues. "The attraction was mutual, so I kept coming. You know, the same spot, same rock, same treatment, the same arms to transport me back to Mexico. Oh, I was in love!"
Sanders said they hope theatergoers seeing "scenarios that are all pretty familiar, like a cheating husband and a Catholic boy rebelling against his parents" turned on their heads leads them to look at issues in a different way "than our typical discussions that can become very intellectual, obscuring the reality behind what's happening."
"I just hope people walk away laughing," said Guerrero. "It is a comedy after all. But along with that, I hope they experience some empathy for the characters and for people who find themselves in these situations, struggling with sexuality, and also sociopolitical and emotional challenges."
On Out in the Bay, in addition to Drag Performer, we meet three other tragically comic characters portrayed by Guerrero — Catholic Boy, who is being banged by a "cholo," (a type of Mexican subculture) Wrestler Dad with "client" on the side, and serial dater Ulysses Maximilian Lopez.
To experience them in full, as well as the other three characters — Chapel Guy, College Student and San Francisco gay-bashing victim Jordy — you'll have to see "Bad Hombres," the opener of Theatre Rhinoceros' 46th season. Tickets and more information are at Theatre Rhinoceros' website.
Hear "Bad Hombres" actor Rudy Guerrero and director River Bermudez Sanders on this week's Out in the Bay. It airs 6:30 p.m. Thursday, October 13, on KSFP, 102.5 FM San Francisco only; 5 p.m. Friday, October 14, on KALW, 91.7 FM SF Bay Area-wide; and at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, October 15, on KSFP, 102.5 FM San Francisco only. It is always available on Out in the Bay's website.
Eric Jansen is founding host and executive producer of Out in the Bay Queer Radio + Podcast. Learn more and listen here.
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