i put the fear of mexico in 'em presented by Teatro Vista at Chicago Dramatists

Chicago Tribune - Somewhat Recommended

"... On the heels of an election in which strong Latino support is widely credited with helping President Barack Obama seal the deal, Matthew Paul Olmos' play about the troubled border — literal and cerebral — between the United States and Mexico could hardly be timelier. But although the play is packed with arresting images and fervent ideas, neither Olmos' script for "I Put the Fear of Mexico in 'Em" nor Teatro Vista's world-premiere staging by Ricardo Gutierrez feels completely mapped out."

Chicago Sun Times - Not Recommended

"...Olmos' subject - the many misconceptions and stereotypes that tend to poison relations on both sides of the U.S.-Mexican border - is certainly worth exploring. But he has approached it in the most primitive and belief-stretching ways, confirming rather than dispelling all the familiar myths. And sitting through this play, directed by Teatro Vista's new artistic director, Ricardo Gutierrez, was sheer agony - not because of its painful message, but because of its total inadequacy."

Chicago Reader - Somewhat Recommended

"...Olmos also careens from genre to genre, hitting social satire, absurdist comedy, dead-serious drama, and magic realism, complete with snakes roiling in the gut. Trouble is, none of it is convincing. Director Ricardo Gutierrez brings some order to the chaos in his program note, but not in his 95-minute production for Teatro Vista. Six adept actors strain mightily to no avail."

ChicagoCritic - Recommended

"...Cheryl Graeff and Miguel Nunez anchor a stellar cast. Director Ricardo Gutierrez navigates the complex script from realism and fantasy and back again striving for clarity. He basically succeeds despite a few vague transitions. I Put the Fear of Mexico in 'em is an ambitious attempt to cover important and serious themes through humor and wackiness from fantasy to realism. It becomes 95 minutes of engaging theatre."

Around The Town Chicago - Recommended

"...Regina Garcia's simple set serves to set the tone as do the lighting effects( Sarah Hughey), the sound ( Christopher Kriz) and the costumes( Christine Pascual). This is one of those productions where there is no need of glitz and glamour- no need to have the audience "dazzled" by the technical parts of the show. It is the words that are written, the actors who make the characters come to life and the director who puts all the pieces o fthe puzzle together for the audience. There will be some who see it differently than others and that is the beauty of theater."