Theater Thursday - Real Women Have Curves

We received complimentary tickets to Real Women Have Curves for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own.

What: Real Women Have Curves

Where: James Earl Jones Theatre 

             138 W. 48th St.

              New York, NY

Who: Recommended for Ages 12 and Up

Me - When I first heard a few songs from Real Women Have Curves, I felt good about the show and thought I would enjoy it. When I actually saw it, I was not disappointed. I really like the songs. The few I'd heard before and remembered I already liked, but I also enjoyed many of the other songs. I can't wait for the release of the cast album so I can listen to them again.

The show has an interesting plot that really holds your attention throughout. It is very timely because it deals with immigration issues and more,  and it has a lot of important things to say. However, it is still presented in a hopeful and fun way that keeps it from being too depressing to watch.

The performances were all good. I was happy to see so many actors getting their first chance to perform on the Broadway stage. They were really talented.

Even though this show makes you think about important things, it is still quite entertaining. I would highly recommend it.

Mom - Real Women Have Curves is an extremely moving story about a young girl torn between her desires and her family's expectations of her. It was originally a play by Josefina Lopez.  It was later turned into a 2002 movie starring American Ferrera.  Now, it has become a musical that recently opened on Broadway.

The songs are delightful. A few of them, including the catchy title number, may even get stuck in your head. Although the majority of the songs are in English, a few of them do incorporate some Spanish, but not in a way that makes it difficult for anyone who doesn't speak the language to comprehend.

The show spotlights characters who often get shuffled to the side instead of being the main focus of the story. The central character, Ana,  is Latina, and most of the other cast members, who are mostly women, are too. They are of various ages and sizes. Even in this time of alleged diversity in casting, this is a rarity, particularly regarding size. Most casts have their token larger female character, and the rest are the usual skinny girls. In this show, Ana herself is, in fact, a larger girl, and although she seems comfortable in her skin, her mother constantly harps on her about her size, which in itself really says a lot about her relationship with her mother as well as what it's like for girls like her even within their own families.

Ana is played by newcomer Tatianna Cordoba. She imbues the character with plenty of spunk and a lot of heart. Her performance excellently captures what it feels like to be torn between family loyalty and following one's own path. The relationship that develops between her character and Mason Reeves' Henry is so awkwardly sweet and relatable too. The rest of the cast, many of whom are newcomers to the Broadway stage as well, give equally touching performances. 

The show is extremely timely and relevant, even though it takes place in the late 1980s. Aside from cultural and family issues, it deals with the problems of illegal immigration and the miserable way the situation is handled. It is not all heavy-handed, however, and there are plenty of light, happy, and funny moments throughout the story.  If you are interested in meaningful story that is still told in a fun way, you should see this show.

And that's our view. For more about Real Women Have Curves or to purchase tickets, visit www.realwomenhavecurvesbroadway.com

Tune in Saturday for Still More Theater Saturday.

Photo credits:

All Real Women Have Curves production photos by Julieta Cervantes

Images used in this post have been sent to us from publicists, artists, and/or  PR firms and are used by permission. If there is a problem with the rights to any image,  contact us here, and we will look into the matter.