The Cruise by
The Cruise is a father/son comic drama set aboard a boutique luxury cruise ship in the Caribbean Sea.
The father, charismatic and street-smart Ramon, (performed in the World Premiere by Culture Clash's Ric Salinas) has maneuvered his way on board as the ship’s “enrichment lecturer,” a privileged position among the staff despite his spotty credentials and work history.
Ramon...
The father, charismatic and street-smart Ramon, (performed in the World Premiere by Culture Clash's Ric Salinas) has maneuvered his way on board as the ship’s “enrichment lecturer,” a privileged position among the staff despite his spotty credentials and work history.
Ramon...
The Cruise is a father/son comic drama set aboard a boutique luxury cruise ship in the Caribbean Sea.
The father, charismatic and street-smart Ramon, (performed in the World Premiere by Culture Clash's Ric Salinas) has maneuvered his way on board as the ship’s “enrichment lecturer,” a privileged position among the staff despite his spotty credentials and work history.
Ramon takes the high end gig to reconcile with his estranged son, the more polished and erudite James (played in the World Premiere by rising talent Kenneth Lopez), recently graduated from NYU and pursuing a career in writing.
However, when Ramon’s professional credentials and past antics as a closeted gay man are revealed to his son and the ever present Cruise Director, father and son must confront deeper issues of identity and social value, especially after the son is befriended by a wealthy couple from Arizona who sees the young man’s potential to work on their conservative political campaign.
The play is unique in part for its portrayal of contemporary middle-class Latinos and the exploration of displacement among the dominant Anglo culture, presented against the background of Columbus’ presence in the Americas and the decimation of the Arawaks in particular, the ironic focus on Ramon’s lecture.
Moreover, the play deals with matters of sexuality, specifically gay male identity and the sometimes ambiguous spectrum it entails in Latin culture, with matter of fact, normative aplomb.
At the heart of it, the play is a touching piece about a father and son, gifted misfits trying to find their place in the world, despite a history of colonial and social oppression. Since their tale is told with equals parts humor and quick-paced action, the character driven story is made universal for anyone who has ever felt marginalized and questioned their place in the world.
The father, charismatic and street-smart Ramon, (performed in the World Premiere by Culture Clash's Ric Salinas) has maneuvered his way on board as the ship’s “enrichment lecturer,” a privileged position among the staff despite his spotty credentials and work history.
Ramon takes the high end gig to reconcile with his estranged son, the more polished and erudite James (played in the World Premiere by rising talent Kenneth Lopez), recently graduated from NYU and pursuing a career in writing.
However, when Ramon’s professional credentials and past antics as a closeted gay man are revealed to his son and the ever present Cruise Director, father and son must confront deeper issues of identity and social value, especially after the son is befriended by a wealthy couple from Arizona who sees the young man’s potential to work on their conservative political campaign.
The play is unique in part for its portrayal of contemporary middle-class Latinos and the exploration of displacement among the dominant Anglo culture, presented against the background of Columbus’ presence in the Americas and the decimation of the Arawaks in particular, the ironic focus on Ramon’s lecture.
Moreover, the play deals with matters of sexuality, specifically gay male identity and the sometimes ambiguous spectrum it entails in Latin culture, with matter of fact, normative aplomb.
At the heart of it, the play is a touching piece about a father and son, gifted misfits trying to find their place in the world, despite a history of colonial and social oppression. Since their tale is told with equals parts humor and quick-paced action, the character driven story is made universal for anyone who has ever felt marginalized and questioned their place in the world.