The Gauchos Americanos by Julián Mesri

In Los Estados Unidos  three gauchos wrestle with deportation, the law and themselves on a quest to become “American.” The stubborn Don Ariel looks after his cousins, the soccer-obsessed Don Entorno and his brother the hotheaded Don Infante. Needing work visas, Don Ariel enlists the services of cowboy lawyer Billy, who realizes that due to a clerical error, Don Ariel has been granted an artist’s visa and must...
In Los Estados Unidos  three gauchos wrestle with deportation, the law and themselves on a quest to become “American.” The stubborn Don Ariel looks after his cousins, the soccer-obsessed Don Entorno and his brother the hotheaded Don Infante. Needing work visas, Don Ariel enlists the services of cowboy lawyer Billy, who realizes that due to a clerical error, Don Ariel has been granted an artist’s visa and must scramble to record an Argentine epic as a book on tape. The appearance of immigration agent Gazpacho brings to light truths—in English and in Spanish—about Billy and the gauchos. Written in an invented cowboy dialect the Gauchos Americanos reverses the rules of language to explore the hypocrisy at the heart of our borders.
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The Gauchos Americanos

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  • Alexander Perez:
    8 Nov. 2021
    “ A superbly crafted misadventure that goes off the rails in ways hysterical and surprising. Mesri's hybrid slang and reverse translation are the stuff of genius. Not since A Clockwork Orange has a natural patois melded so effortlessly with a text. The characters are so vibrant and specific to their own desires that even amongst the deconstruction of language context is never lost but rather elevated to heights never before possible with mere English. There's so much to unpack here in regards to cultural identity, patriotism, colorism, and masculinity. A fascinatingly dense opus that isn't afraid of a happy ending. ”
  • Cheryl Bear:
    22 Aug. 2020
    “ A powerful and riveting look at what it takes to stay in the country and get work. Well done! ”

3 Actors should be Latinx (ideally South American), 1 actor Latinx (ideally Mexico). Cross-gender casting (especially with Don Infante) is encouraged!