Last month, Ike’s Little Theater hosted their first production of the year titled ‘Just Like Us.’ Just Like Us is a play written by Karen Zacarias that tells the true events of four Latina, high school girls. Set in Denver, Colorado, these girls spend their lives together and are open books with one another until a discovery about immigration status threatens their future. They go through life having to make tough choices and face the reality of the world they live in. As stated in the play’s description, “‘Just Like Us’ is both a celebration of resilience and a call for understanding in a divided world.”
This play featured a cast of the four main characters; Marisela (played by Eva Valdez and Lorraine Alamilo), Yadira (played by Sophia Vasquez and Viviana Jaimes), Clara (played by Leanna Loria and Karla Mendez) and Elissa (played by Valery Angulo). Their lives are followed and written about through the lens of news reporter and mayor’s wife, Helen Thorpe (played by Kaylee Garcia).
Throughout the production, actors worked together to portray the strong friendships and difficult realities of each of the characters. Each performer added emotion and authenticity to their roles helping portray the story not only making it accurate but thought-provoking. The play moved between the ups and downs of the characters’ lives and the challenges they faced surrounding their immigration status and identity as a whole. The differences between the moments of laughter and tension brought a sense of realness to the story being told.
What many of the actors in this play wanted was for the audience to be left thinking. Thinking about the experiences and realities that some face everyday Thinking about the opportunities that some people are given while others must fight for them. Thinking about how immigration status can shape someone’s future so heavily despite the hard work and effort they put in. Lastly, thinking about how empathy and understanding can bring communities closer together. ‘Just Like Us’ was more than just a school play, it was a meaningful story that gave light to real issues while celebrating life, friendships and love. Through the cast and crew’s dedication to this story, Ike’s Little Theater not only entertained but changed the audience with their performances.
