With catchy songs and a consistent theme… delicious Latino FOOD… everyone was mesmerized. The cast of three sing, dance and clown with masses of good spirits and humour. You do not have to be a child to enjoy this delightful interactive comedy.
“6-year-old Manny is making his very first guacamole for his dad’s welcome home dinner in London. It’s a good thing his Colombian mum, Valeria, is a professional chef and knows a song to help with the recipe. Manny’s Mexican grandma is preparing the dessert, but Abuela Alma doesn’t like boys in the kitchen – after all, it wasn’t like that before. But Manny feels differently. Why can’t he become a chef? Or a superhero like Mighty Mujer? Or both?”
Damian Schedler Cruz as Manny
Produced by Maya Productions, and directed by Suzanne Gorman, this play is a little gem. I watched school teachers traipse in with their young charges filling the Studio theatre Peckham to the brim. The performers interacted with the audience enthusing and encouraging them to participate at every turn. The comedy, the clowning and the singing was well choreographed and with a little more space, I could have imagined the whole audience dancing with them. Mums, Dads, and teachers all joined in and enjoyed the experience.
Súper Chefs
Maya Productions has understood the importance of cultural interchanges and how children, in particular, react to seeing themselves profiled on stage. The story emphasizes not only the cultural diaspora but also the exciting culinary contributions, intergenerational dynamics and, of course, an exciting Mighty Mujer superhero to help along the way. The kids loved it, clapping and cheering their approval, revealing they knew quite a number of the words already
The cast consists of Valeria, the mother, (María León), her son Manny (Damián Schedler Cruz) and Alma (Granny played by Cinthia Lilen). María León doubled as Might Mujer.
The music, composed by Cuban Ariel Cubría, is particularly good with memorable, catchy tunes that would not take much to have everyone singing along. I would definitely suggest the production investing in having a CD to buy and take home at the end of the show. Cubría career has spanned jazz, rock, por and even lilting son and other original rhythms of his country. He has recorded and toured with many stars including Gloria Gaynor, Rita Irasema, Snowy White (Pink Floyd) and Nuno Dacamara Pereira, Roberto Plá and Alex Wilson. This is not his first outing into theatrical productions, having composed the music for the play ‘Ana in the Tropics’ by Nilo Cruz that won the Pulitzer Prize, he was also nominated for the Max Awards. Ariel Cubría, having travelled and toured extensively, has visited many parts of the world. He has lived in Slovenia, Argentina, Madrid, and is currently based in London. Cubría’s first solo album "LO QUE VALE DE TI", includes keyboard collaborations with composer Bob Telson (who was nominated for an Oscar for the music of the film Bagdad Café).
Ariel Cubría the composer
Suzanne Groman, the director, first met Betsy Picard the writer, when she was doing her MA in Theatre for Young Audiences.
“She wanted to bring some of her Latin American culture to a British audience. Then, she started writing the play and I mentored her as part of that process, but we ended up putting it away for a while. But the play stuck with me and I always remembered it, so I approached Betsy and said: “Do you still have it, because I think we can do something with it.” So, she brought it back out and we then involved Ariel. We did a workshop week where we worked with a group called ‘Espacio Mama’ who are based in Southwark. We talked to them about the show and being parents in London. We tried to interconnect with the Latin American Community and its development, as well as working with a partner school, St Anthony’s to carry out workshops that go alongside the show.
Therefore, it’s a show that has a wider reach as well. We’ve been getting feedback from the children about what they learned. Lots of them say: “Well, I learnt how to cook”, some of them are more specific: “I learnt how to make Guacamole,” others say: “I learned to ask for help,” as well. There are many different ‘themes’ within it.
It is a joyous play and so it immediately invites you to go into this family’s kitchen, into their home and be part of their life, really.”
María León and Cinthia Lilen as mother and grandmother
It is fascinating to note that while there are only three people on stage, there are no fewer than 16 members of a hard-working crew behind them! From the producer María Cuervo, Malena Arcucci who was Set and Costume designer and Harvey Ebbage, who carried out the Lighting Design, to Pancho Díaz, who made the props and Anna Álvarez, the Movement Director, to mention but a few. So, what may come across as slick and simple, with only three performers on stage, has, in effect, an army behind them to help it all work so seamlessly.
Súper Chefs
Suzanne Gorman: -
“The funding comes largely from Arts Council of England and also from the Postcode Society Trust. We have also been helped by the Newcomen Collett Foundation who supported our workshops, to help us go into schools and work with St Anthony’s. There is also the Teale Charitable Trust who support our work with children.
This is the first outing for this show, the ‘premiere’, so we’ve chosen to show it in theatres such as the Theatre Peckham, although we’ve always imagined it as something that could go to schools and venues like libraries as well... We will be going to Sheffield for the ‘Migration Matters Festival,’ for one performance then we’re back in London at the Stanley Arts in Croydon, on Sunday. We really feel that the play has legs so what we would like to do next is take it on a bigger tour with more performances.”
Súper Chefs is a super production that would do well travelling the country, visiting schools and small towns as well as larger venues. If you have young kids, do not miss it!
Touring:
June 11-14: Theatre Peckham (Southwark) /June 17: Migration Matters Festival (Sheffield) / June 18: Stanley Arts (Croydon)
Theatre Peckham 11-14th June - Book now!
Stanley Arts Centre 18th June - Book here!
Migration Matters Festival 17th June - Book here!
Ariel Cubría Recordings: CD Ariel Cubría “Lo Que Vale de Tí” (2011) solo álbum /for more info see www.arielcubría.com
Cast: Damian Schedler Cruz – Manny / Maria León - Valeria and Mighty Mujer / Cinthia Lilen - Alma
Production Team: Suzanne Gorman – Director / María Cuervo - Producer and Assistant Director / Malena Arcucci - Set & Costume Designer / Harvey Ebbage - Lighting Designer /Luis ‘Gustavo’ Silva Navarro - Sound Designer / Anna Álvarez - Movement Director and Choregrapher / Josh Sood - Music Director / Pancho Díaz - Prop Maker /Pembe Tokluhan - Production Manager /Leonora Nicholson - Technical Stage Manager /Natalia Knowlton Vásquez - Marketing Strategist / Adrian Devant & Gian Carlo Ferrini - Marketing and Engagement Assistants /Federico Trujillo - Engagement Facilitator /Ivan Pieri Gonzalez - Graphic Designer /Héctor Rodríguez Manchego - Photographer and Videographer /Ada Onyekwelu - Maya Productions Administrator.
