Review of ‘The Many Deaths of Danny Rosales’
Photo Courtesy / Martyn Morales
Lona Areola as Berta Rosales and Lalo Delhoyo as Danny Rosales
Thunder Theater’s first show of the year, ‘The Many Deaths of Danny Rosales’ written by Doctor Carlos Morton, had its first showing the evening of September 7th. There will be another show on September 9th.
The show did a great job of translating the story to the stage while dealing with the limitations of a high school production. The cast all did an amazing job at making the story feel as authentic as possible, with special mention to Fernanda Arellano, who played Rowena Saldivar, Lalo Delhoyo, who played Danny Rosales, and Sam Gutierrez, who played Sheriff Fred Hall.
While the play’s overall runtime was cut down significantly, the production still feels complete, and no holes are created within the story. The bulk of what was lost in the process of trimming the story are some of the flashbacks within the story, and while it is a shame they had to be cut, the story still flows well without them.
The set design is minimalistic but achieves everything it sets out to accomplish. The courtroom is convincing enough, but what really helps it stand out is the scale in the background, symbolizing justice. The lighting is dynamic and dramatic, helping this symbol stand out in the best way possible.
To summarize the plot of the docudrama play briefly and avoiding as many spoilers as possible: a Mexican American man, Danny Rosales, is killed by the town’s sheriff Fred Hall, who then drags his entire family into a cover up. The play covers the ensuing trial and delivers context in the form of flashbacks.
The plot of the play is based on the real death of Ricardo Morales, who was killed in much the same manner in the 1970s. Doctor Morton’s play is an excellent dramatization of the events, and Thunder Theater’s own production has certainly done it justice.
The play covers several issues that remain relevant to the world today, namely those of racism and police brutality. It is not hard to imagine a story similar to that of Danny Rosales happening today, decades after the case that inspired it. There are still very real racial divides throughout the United States, divides that are only worsened by incidents of police brutality toward ethnic minorities.
If you are interested in attending the play, the next showing is on Friday, September 9th. Tickets cost $5 and can be purchased at the door.
Joshua Haefner is a senior, and this is his third year in newspaper. His favorite part of newspaper is being able to see improvement in writers. He is...
Socorro Luna Galusha • Sep 9, 2022 at 4:12 am
Josh Haefner has written a theater critique that I applaud and appreciate. I attended the Wednesday night Thunder Theatre production of “The Many Deaths of Danny Rosales” where the performance by the students directed by Martyn Morales was stellar! ¡Bravo! ¡Bravissimo!
After remembering witnessing this same play at the Chamizal, and watching it again with talented Coronado High School Drama students, I was reminded that what happened in the 1970’s is still occurring. Racism, police superiority, and poverty, contributed to the many deaths of Danny Rosales.
The Question and Answer session before the play took a fascinating emphasis on the memories of Ruben Salazar Jr. He not only is the son of the attorney depicted in the story, but also is a teacher of Government and History at Coronado High School. An audience member spoke of being a classmate of Ruben Salazar Sr. at Jefferson High School. Victor Vázquez was enticed by a Facebook post by a fellow Westside Democrat with the poster graphic announcement of the play.
After the show it was announced by Mr. Morales that the Booster Club for Students in Theater Arts was approved. Another announcement was of the Carlos Morton Foundation for Teatro Chicano. Life is good in the world of theatre starting in El Paso, Texas.
The final performance is Friday, September 9.2022 and I will be there dressed to the nines with flowers for the cast. Roland Guerrero will be giving a concert at the upcoming cast party courtesy of Dr. Carlos Morton the Chicano playwright who regretted his absence. He was invited to Peru as a Fulbright Professor to teach about his expertise in Teatro Chicano. Bravo again and again!