(Cover Photo: Ricardo “Ricky” Holguin as “Julián” dances for Arthur Gomez as “Héctor" in a scene from Tony Meneses' "THE HOMBRES" presented by Gloucester Stage Company in Gloucester, MA. now playing through September 29, 2024. Photo Credit Jason Grow Photography)

By Kevin T. Baldwin

METRMAG Reviewer

# 774-242-6724

I’ve been working, so hard, to be the man I know is in here somewhere."  

                                                                  - ("Héctor") / Tony Meneses

Gloucester Stage Company

in Partnership with Teatro Chelsea

Presents Tony Meneses'

"THE HOMBRES"

Written by Tony Meneses

Directed by Armando Rivera 

Cast Includes: Arthur Gomez* as “Héctor,” Jaime José Hernández as “Beto,” Ricardo “Ricky” Holguin* as “Julián,” Luis Negrón* as “Pedro,” Patrick O’Konis as “Miles”

Additional Creative Team:

Asst. Director - Sofia Cardona; Sound Designer - Julian Crocamo; Intimacy Director - Olivia Dumaine; Properties Designer + Apprentice - Carolyn Ferris; Lighting Designer - John Holmes; Movement Designer - Nathaniel Justiniano; Asst. Stage Manager + Apprentice - Leanna Niesen; Costume Designer - Chelsea Kerl; Set Designer - Kristin Loeffler; Production Stage Manager - Pat-rice Rooney; Fight Director - Robert Walsh°; Dramaturg + Apprentice - Yijia Yu.

*Member of Actors’ Equity Association (AEA)

† Represented by United Scenic Artists, Local USA-829 of the IATSE

Performances:

September 6, 2024 through September 29, 2024

(Contact Box Office for Exact Times) 

GLOUCESTER STAGE COMPANY, 267 East Main Street, Gloucester MA.

PLEASE NOTE: Final week of performances to be held at CHELSEA THEATRE WORKS, 189 Winnisimmet Street, Chelsea, MA. 02150

TICKETS:

For detailed ticket information or additional information, contact the Box Office at # 978-281-4433 or visit www.gloucesterstage.com. 

BUY TICKETS 

COVID 19 PROTOCOLS

Contact Venue for Most Updated COVID-19 Safety Protocols and Information.

Gloucester Stage Company concludes its 2024 season in style with a tender-hearted tale "THE HOMBRES" - involving a gay yoga instructor and a macho crew of construction workers. 

Written by Tony Meneses , the Gloucester Stage production of "THE HOMBRES" is adeptly directed by Armando Rivera. 

The production history of "THE HOMBRES" began when it was commissioned in 2018 by the Two River Theater in New Jersey and was given a reading by the theatre at the Crossing Borders Festival that same year. It was also given another reading by the NJPAC Stage Exchange that same year. 

Now, "THE HOMBRES" gets the full treatment with a terrific staging by Gloucester Stage Company and is definitely a show well worth seeing, in no small part thanks to its fine cast. 

With an ingeniously-constructed minimalist set made up mostly of scaffolding along the back wall, "THE HOMBRES" cleverly eases from scene to scene with little downtime. 

There is a fine use of specialized lighting and carefully selected music in the production which almost gives the sense that this play might one day evolve and transition into a blockbuster musical, if placed into the right hands. 

The story offers up to us a unique insight into male friendships, male intimacy (or sometimes the lack thereof) and looks at a machismo culture - in this case a Latino culture - that occasionally fears its own masculinity (or sometimes the lack thereof). 

(Photo: Jaime José Hernández as “Beto,” Luis Negrón as “Pedro” and Arthur Gomez as “Héctor" in a scene from Tony Meneses' "THE HOMBRES" presented by Gloucester Stage Company in Gloucester, MA. now playing through September 29, 2024. Photo Credit Jason Grow Photography)

In the story, a New Jersey yoga studio is being harassed by construction workers on a site located right next door to the studio. 

We first meet Julián (Ricardo “Ricky” Holguin), a sensitive, gay Latino yoga instructor, who tells us of one of his earliest crushes. 

Holguin gives one of the most passionate multi-layered performances witnessed this season. 

From this early experience, Julián quickly learned to hold his sexuality close to his vest. Julián initially confronts Héctor (Arthur Gomez), the older head of the construction crew, after a series of complaints by some of the women taking class at the studio.   

During their conversation, Héctor admits to wanting to actually take yoga, which surprises Julián. 

Yet, once Héctor reveals his reasoning behind wanting to do so, Julián, still reluctant at first, agrees. 

(Photo: Ricardo “Ricky” Holguin as “Julián” speaks to Arthur Gomez as “Héctor" in a scene from Tony Meneses' "THE HOMBRES" presented by Gloucester Stage Company in Gloucester, MA. now playing through September 29, 2024. Photo Credit Jason Grow Photography)

One of the interesting dichotomies in the relationship between the two men is how their own Latino culture and upbringing distinguishes them. 

Héctor is a straight, uber-masculine, imposing, intimidating blue-collar type who speaks fluent Spanish, while Julián…well, isn’t and doesn’t. 

Yet, through their conversations and personal interactions, and thanks to the incredibly authentic performances given by both Gomez and Holguin, these two men achieve a new level of understanding and a kinship they never thought possible. 

Their clandestine yoga lessons result in many personal conversations which expose lifelong wounds each of the men carry with them. So much so that we truly come to care about each of them and to what happens to them.

Another relationship Julián explores is with a regular paying yoga student, Miles (Patrick O’Konis), a married man who is taking Julián’s class in effort to try and reduce some stress from his relationship with his wife. 

O’Konis provides an amiable charm and naiveté as Miles. 

With this relationship, though, there also comes with it a bit of a mystery teetering on whether or not Miles actually is attracted to Julián and vice versa. 

While "THE HOMBRES" provides an intimate look at the subject of masculinity, as always, some toxicity factors into that subject. 

In Héctor’s case, part of that toxicity comes from co-workers Beto (Jaime José Hernández) and Pedro (Luis Negrón) once they learn of what Héctor has been doing after he leaves work.

(Photo: Luis Negrón as “Pedro” sits and listens to Jaime José Hernández as “Beto” in a scene from Tony Meneses' "THE HOMBRES" presented by Gloucester Stage Company in Gloucester, MA. now playing through September 29, 2024. Photo Credit Jason Grow Photography)

Hernández and Negrón skillfully counterbalance one another with the approach taken to their characters. 

Pedro proves to be the more compassionate of the two, with a willingness to accept new ideas. 

Conversely, Beto staunchly refuses to consider any concept which he has “learned” threatens the idea of what it is to be a man, especially a Latino man. 

While there are quite a few stereotypes witnessed at the start of the play, thanks to Meneses’ sincere approach, those stereotypes soon break down as communication proves to become a vital component in learning compassion among these characters. 

(Photo: Ricardo “Ricky” Holguin as “Julián” dances for Arthur Gomez as “Héctor" in a scene from Tony Meneses' "THE HOMBRES" presented by Gloucester Stage Company in Gloucester, MA. now playing through September 29, 2024. Photo Credit Jason Grow Photography)

Throughout the course of "THE HOMBRES," these five characters learn for themselves just what it is that is required of them to become the man they hope to be and, more than that, just how to become a genuinely good and fulfilled human being. 

Please read the below when planning your trip to see this show: 

"THE HOMBRES" runs from September 6th to the 29th, but the production will start at Gloucester Stage’s Theater in Gloucester, MA. for the first three weeks ONLY, then it will move to Chelsea Theatre Works in Chelsea, MA. for the final week.

For detailed ticket information or additional information, contact the Box Office at # 978-281-4433 or visit www.gloucesterstage.com. 

BUY TICKETS 

Approximately two hours with one intermission.  

Kevin T. Baldwin is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA)

@MetrmagReviews 

@Theatre_Critics 

ABOUT THE SHOW

A macho crew of construction workers clash with the clientele of the next door yoga studio in this new comedy. 

When Julián, the Latino yoga instructor, confronts Héctor, the older head of the crew, the men find new flexibility and friendship they never expected. 

Secret yoga lessons and deep conversations provide an intimate look at masculinity in this heartwarming play.

Written by Tony Meneses and directed by Armando Rivera, "THE HOMBRES” offers a fresh perspective on male friendships and machismo culture.

ABOUT GLOUCESTER STAGE COMPANY

GLOUCESTER STAGE is a professional non-profit theater company, operating under a NEAT agreement with AEA, SDC, and IATSE unions, presenting contemporary plays and rousing classics that have moved on to commercial productions in New York and Paris. Located in a century-old brick warehouse on the oceanfront of Boston’s North Shore, the unique three quarter thrust stage provides an intimate experience for audiences.

GLOUCESTER STAGE COMPANY

267 East Main Street

Gloucester, MA 01930

# 978-281-4433

www.gloucesterstage.com