Platanos & Collard Greens

Issues among races, cultures, and traditions always amuse me. Although differences among people are infinite, only one similarity could bind and unite them.

Platanos and Collard Greens is a play about the relationship of Freeman (an African-American) and Angelita (Latina). Angelita's mom disapproves of her relationship with Freeman because of the mere fact that he is black. It reached the point where Angelita's mom pretended to have a heart attack when she and Angelita were arguing about Freeman. Angelita was then forced to break up with him. The issue which plays on Angelita's mom is her beliefs being deeply rooted from the traditional thinking of the Latinos.

I think I enjoyed watching the play because the issue tackled was interesting and is very typical in today's world. Not only was the play funny but it also made some sense. The cast was pretty good. Freeman's friend (I forgot his name!) is the best, not as a friend but as a stage play actor. He sure has the talent and was fun to watch. I liked it when he rapped and danced. He and Freeman was a good duo in such a way that they were so natural and real in terms of acting. Freeman's dad was fun to watch as well, especially when he tried to demonstrate to his son how he danced to impress Freeman's mom and how he dreamed of the "hot" Latinas. Freeman's mom, by the way, is a Latina - a Dominican. Melody and the other Latina had not-so-big parts in the play but their speeches made sense. It was so funny when both girls were dancing- the typical Latino and the African-American style.

What I didn't like about the play was that the setting did not show much creativity. It was just the stage and six chairs. The music and light effects tried to made up for the lack of a stage back-drop or something. Also, there wasn't costume change - this may not have been as important but I think their clothes could have added a little "spice" to the presentation.

I know the main theme of the story but I don't get what the playwright is trying to imply in the end. Is he trying to point out that relationships among African-Americans and Latinos/Latinas work out as long as they remain discreet about it? or that African-American and Latino/Latina relationships just don't work because of their cultural differences?

And stupid as this may seem, I don't know why the title was such. Do platanos & collard greens represent the African-Americans and the Latinos?