The Pain of the Macho and Other Plays

by Rick Najera

Overview

In the face of political correctness and the feminist movement, renowned stand-up comedian, scriptwriter and satirist Rick Najera dares to proclaim—tongue in cheek, of course—that machos are regular guys, too. In The Pain of the Macho, Najera has assembled an ensemble cast of quintessential Latin Lovers or wannabes who pour out their souls in side-splitting monologues. But the zing in the punch line hits us when we realize that melodramatic, teary-eyed spiels lead sly insights into the dilemma faced by not just Latino men but all those who must exist at the margins of two intersecting cultural spheres. The other two plays included in this wildly entertaining collection are “A Quiet Love” and “Latinologues.”.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781611927436
Publisher:	Arte Publico Press
Publication date:	09/30/1997
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	140 KB

About the Author

RICK NAJERA has earned recognition as one of Hollywood's top comedy writers, but is probably best known to audiences as one of the original members of the hilarious sketch-comedy group, Latins Anonymous. He began his career in theater, performing on some of America's leading classical stages. This experience led him to starring and recurring roles on television, including appearances on General Hospital, China Beach, Falcon Crest and Columbo. Najera soon became a playwright/performer and produced such instant hits as Latins Anonymous, The Pain of the Macho, and Latinologues. In 1996, he co-wrote Latins Anonymous: Plays (Arte Público Press) and in 1997 he published The Pain of the Macho and Other Plays (Arte Público Press). Despite his numerous successes and commitments, the multi-faceted Najera remains committed to live performances, touring his one-man show, The Pain of the Macho around the country.

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Editorial Reviews

In this debut collection, Najera proves himself to be one of the most exciting and talented Latino writers of his generation. Consisting of the title play, A Quiet Love, and Latinologues, which has been produced on Showtime's Latino Comedy Festival, the collection embodies self-deprecating humor, witty satire, and a deep empathy with the abuses and stereotypes Latinos have endured. In the title play, a collection of ten linked but separate monologs, Najera probes the multiple meanings of machismo through diverse characters, including a Beverly Hills busboy who is seduced by an attractive customer, Desi Arnaz speaking before the Miami Rotary Club, an outgoing Miss East L.A. who refuses to give up her crown, and Bufford Gomez, a conflicted INS agent. A Quiet Love, the one multicharactered play in the collection, is a treatment of Najera's own family. Latinos, Anglos, and everyone else will experience much of what binds us, and still distinguishes us, through these brilliantly realized characters. Variety has called Najera "one of the 50 Creatives to watch," and his collection belongs in every contemporary drama or multicultural literature collection.Robert W. Melton, Univ. of Kansas Libs., Lawrence

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