Absurdist theater is taking center stage in the heart of San Antonio’s Westside. From Sept. 25-27, audiences can join writer, director and lead actor Rodney Garza for his stage production “El Pazchuco For Prez” at the SAY Si Black Box Studio. The Paisano had the opportunity to talk with Garza and Theater Director Jorge Piña.
The satirical play, which blends humor with political commentary, unveils the tale of El Pazchuco as he navigates the tumultuous political landscape of Los Estates of Aztlan.
The Pachuco has long been an inspiration for Garza, who recalls being in awe as he watched Luis Valdez’s “Zoot Suits.” The flair of the extravagantly baggy suit created an ambience that drew Garza in.
“The first time I saw the film ‘Zoot Suit’ by Luis Valdez, I was certainly blown away by the iconic version of a Pachuco in that film,” Garza said. “And so that struck me as one of those things that, man, I hope to be able to portray that character one day. I knew that somewhere along the line, I was going to work on that play, whether as a Pachuco or otherwise.”
Garza would later star in Teatro Campesino’s national tour of “Zoot Suit” as Enrique Reyna, the father of main character Henry Reyna.
While Valdez’s production sparked Garza’s interest in the Pachuco, it was his clash with a professor at the University of Texas at Austin that led him to realize the importance of legitimizing Español Chicano. With this mission in mind, Garza set out to expand a poem that focused on “ch” sounds in Español Chicano into a 30-minute, one-person show. After gathering the attention of an artistic director in Dallas, Garza and the Pachucho’s interwoven fate became much clearer.
During the 2016 elections, Garza began working on a new show focusing on the absurdity of America’s political landscape. The production was dismissed.
“So, I pitched the idea to that executive director, and he backed out,” Garza commented. “He thought that that would be a little too political. He didn’t want his center, I guess, being seen as divisive or whatever it may be. So he ended up rescinding the offer. I just kind of put it on the back burner and just kind of kept thinking and wondering, you know, what that possibility could have been.”
Now, Piña has given Garza the opportunity to bring his production to life. Contrary to the typical swaggerful, stoic Pachuco associated with Edward James Olmos in “Zoot Suit,” Garza’s Pazchuco is more of a comedic interpretation. The playwright, who believes laughter to be the key to having divisive conversations, took inspiration from Tin Tan’s films to fabricate a comical Pachuco. Through humor and satire, Garza hopes to rouse audiences.
“It wasn’t until my adult years that I realized and figured out that Tin Tan was actually portraying a Pachuco, and that Pachuco happened to be a funny one,” Garza reflected. “For me, it was kind of like wanting to blend what I had learned through the Pachuco character of Luis Valdez, combining it with the Pachuco of Tin Tan, and then coming up with this new version, in the sense of a Pachuco.
“I see the Pachucho as — he has a motto of ‘Pas through rizas,’ so peace through laughter.”
Garza’s “El Pazchuco for Prez” hopes to bring laughter to its audience on Sept. 25-27 at 8 p.m. in the SAY Si Black Box Studio located at 1310 S. Brazos St. Tickets cost $15 and can be purchased online or in person at the Guadalupe Latino Bookstore located at 1300 Guadalupe St.
