The buzz about "Boleros"

Have you been able to keep up with all the great reviews of Boleros for the Disenchanted? If not, here are some press clippings to check out ...

"If you have a choice as to what to see in Portland as we roll into the spring season, please, go see this show. I can’t recommend it enough. I also can’t recommend enough that you bring a tissue or two." — Portland Stage Reviews

"Boleros has a lot to say about hope and optimism, about hard work and its rewards, and about how empty the promises of the land of opportunity often are. But its primary concern is the reality of 'forever' versus the ease with which young couples pledge it at the altar -- and under the direction of Antonio Sonera, this is communicated with humor and spirit... And if it seems determined to break your heart a little bit along the way, there's no pressing 'pause' -- you're just going to have to bring a pack of tissues, and be prepared to let it." — Portland Mercury

"unyieldingly beautiful" — The Oregonian

"Though the subject matter is serious, Boleros mixes in quick-witted humor to keep the flow of the plot light and amusing, and the audience giggling throughout. ... Boleros celebrates each stage of a relationship and reminds us that love is wonderful and painful, but ultimately sweet." — Lewis & Clark Colleage Pioneer Log

"The play has some brawling, funny, and even scary moments ­– it covers some big territory, from the corrosive effects of machismo to the alternately quiet and angry desperation of immigrant life – yet it’s also, almost in a Chekhovian sense, a play of suggestion. It has political undercurrents, surely, or at least a deep awareness of large cultural shifts. But it’s mainly about how those shifts impact the private lives of ordinary people, and how, sometimes, extraordinary ordinary people endure and marginally succeed.... Watching [Luisa] Sermol rise to a passion, or [Ted] Schulz live large from the tiny terrain of his bed, you understand that age is a trickster and a mystery, and that good acting can give us glimpses of its depths." — Oregon Arts Watch

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Audiences, too, have been vocal in their acclaim for this heartfelt production, sharing many comments on our Twitter stream and Facebook page:

"I saw Boleros on Saturday night, and I'm still turning the story, the exceptional performances, and many of Rivera's wonderful lines over and over in my mind. Such tenderness and emotional power captured on a small stage! I was immersed in the story from beginning to end. I recommend the play wholeheartedly." — Julie Ann Barber

"Boleros struck a raw nerve — rich relationships bring joy and pain and it's in the sharing that we grow to know the truth about self and others. Life and this play have this in common: Not always easy, not always comfortable, but satisfying to the core ... Go see this remarkable drama!" — Sherri Vacarella

"This is such a well-acted production. I HIGHLY recommend seeing it! It's funny, touching, intense ... a wonderful experience. Don't miss it!" — Janet Range

"Beautiful story by José Rivera. The direction of Antonio Sonera was stunning. The cast was stellar. Really wonderful. Luisa Sermol was a stand out for me. Every moment was filled. The audience cried throughout the whole show and a standing O was in order. A privilege and an honor to have been in that audience." — Sharonlee Mclean

"This show is poignant, touching, heart-breaking, and often funny. It's beautifully acted and I highly recommend it!" — Julie Pacheco-Toye

"The actors brought so much raw emotion, sensitivity and humor to this story — it felt so real and moved the entire audience to laughter and tears. One of the best plays ever!" — Janis Hoyer 

"Last night was one of the most beautiful nights in theatre that I have had for a long time. Boleros for the Disenchanted by José Rivera, sensitively directed by Antonio Sonera, playing at the Miracle Theatre, and featuring deeply powerful performances by the entire cast, this funny, poetic and moving epic strikes right at the heart of all of us flawed human beings who still seek love in spite of all of it's challenges and heartbreaks. This kind of production is what makes theatre so vital. Make an effort to get there and you will be glad you did." — Elizabeth Huffman

See the show for yourself. Then tell us what YOU thought!