SOUL SACRIFICE – CASA 0101Theatre
Reviewed by Amalisha HuEck
Consuelo G. Flores (playwright) passionately wrote a story of a tragic event that took place in 1970 when she was only 9 years old. Her family immigrated from Mexico to the US for a better life just to find that social justice was very unjust for new immigrant families at that time. She was the last of ten kids and the last two were born in US. At that time, every family was ‘Americanized,’ because their real names were hard to pronounce. And many other changes took place, like – the kids would be punished for speaking Spanish language in schools and the police were always present in their neighborhoods. Consuelo’s play demonstrates the strong bond and the love her family members had for each other. She touches everyone with her portrayal of each member of her family and expresses what a Latina woman/mom had to go through at that time and stay strong. By telling her story, she is telling the story of the whole neighborhood.
The story of SOUL SACRIFICE is told by Connie, who also doubles as a Viet Con soldier (Myrna Velasco), the youngest of ten kids in her family. Luie, her brother (Carlos Pratts) passed his last militant test and was drafted to Vietnam, where he was told ‘he is on a special mission,’ when in fact he became a scout. All young Chicanos became scouts, they go in front of the line, clearing the path for the soldiers. Many were killed and came home in body-bags.
Luie was trained to kill and he killed people. Upon returning home, he can’t sleep, he hears voices. All the sounds that are like what he experienced in the war would trigger him and he would drop to the ground – become violent, evidence of Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. As all those moments come back, he doesn’t know what he is doing. One day he almost killed his mother and father. He doesn’t believe he’ll ever be the same. No one really knows the horror those young people went through in Vietnam. His family cannot understand him. He’s still in war … So, Luie decides to leave, and not to hurt anyone.
His mother Guadalupe Flores powerfully portrayed by Karla Ojeda always believed that – Jesus and the prayer will save her son. She actually is one of the lucky mothers in the neighborhood; her son came back, while a lot of his friends did not, and she was hated for it. Karla is a wonderful actress, her emotional connection to the role touched many, produced many teary eyes in the audience. Her love for her family, particularly for her children, is penetrating deeply into everyone. Not to undermine the rest of the family, Dad Jose Flores (Martin Morales) who loved his drink and played a good drunk, Ben/Danny (David Flores) and Rachel/View Cong (Itzel Ocampo) embrace their roles with dedication.
The director Kenneth Castillo has a lot to do with everyone’s success. He knows how to bring out the best in each actor. As a filmmaker his stories always centered around the Chicano experience and the neighborhood. This play is a perfect fit for the type of storytelling he wants to engage the audience with. Brilliant job!
***Just to mention; Consuelo’s real life brother Luie came for the opening of the show to support his little sister. He is well now, got out of post-depression safely, and is happily married with two kids of his own and a loving wife who was always there for him and helped him with recovery.
The show was produced by Emmanuel Deleage and it’s playing at CASA 0101 Theater, which has become a movement, a voice for that vibrant community in Boyle Heights, and is changing lives. With those incredible actors whose love for the theatre keeps the theatre going and all the creatives, without whom the shows would not exist, after 25 years in operation CASA 0101 is working to create a documentary to capture all those rich stories. If you wish to donate to: casa0101.org/support-documentary, it would be greatly appreciated.
CASA 0101 Theater, was founded by Founding Artistic Director Josefina López, author of Real Women Have Curves, in 2000 to fulfill her vision of bringing art and live theater programs to Boyle Heights. Soul Sacrifice is being presented on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m., and Sundays at 3:00 p.m. until June 21, 2026. Tickets can be obtained by calling CASA 0101 Theater’s Box Office at 323-263-7684, E-mailing tickets@casa0101.org or by buying online at www.casa0101.org
The theatre is located at 2102 East First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90033. Free Parking is available on several streets surrounding the theater. Limited Free Parking is also available at the Boyle Heights City Hall Parking Lot located at 2130 East First Street (at Chicago Street) by entering the lot from Chicago Street.
To learn more and book tickets, please visit www.casa0101.org