Antonio’s Song - I Was Dreaming of A Son
Antonio's journey took him from the streets of Brooklyn to the ballet training studios of Russia. He encountered many obstacles along the way, including the legacy of masculinity stereotypes imposed upon him. But he never gave up. Instead, he continued to push himself, explore new avenues of expression, and discover the beauty of becoming a father. Goodman Theatre's Antonio's Son, I Was Dreaming of A Son, is a powerful one-person narrative by Antonio Edwards Suarez. The story begins with Antonio sharing stories of him being a father and reminiscing about his childhood. Antonio had always been passionate about dance and art. Growing up in Brooklyn, he was surrounded by a rich and diverse cultural scene that fueled his creativity. But as he grew older, he began questioning the balance between his passions and his family history. Antonio tried his best to please everyone, but it was exhausting, as he always felt like he was living between two worlds. Half black and half Latino, he constantly had to navigate the complexities of his multi-racial heritage.
Growing up, he struggled to fit in with both communities. His black friends would often tease him for not being "black enough," and his Latino friends would mock him for lowering himself to fit in with the blacks. In addition, Antonio had always known that his family was different from others. His father had sickle cell anemia, a condition that caused him pain and fatigue, and his mother survived polio but still walked with a limp. However, through his conflicting drama of fitting in, and the help of a friend, he learned to be true to himself and embrace all aspects of his identity. Realizing that he didn't have to choose between being black or Latino - and live between the lines of his multi-racial heritage, Antonio could finally be himself and make choices about his future and career —one being his dream to dance like Mikhail Baryshnikov. But despite these challenges, Antonio never gave up on his passions. He continued to dance and create art, using powerful poetry and original movement to express his innermost thoughts and feelings— even traveling to Russia, where he could immerse himself in a different culture and experience new art forms. The birth of Suarez's son made him reflect on his upbringing and details about his parent's unfulfilled dreams. Antonio's Song is a brilliant, moving, and virtuosic performance that captures the essence of his journey. Co-playwright Antonio Edwards Suarez and Dael Orlandersmith's powerful poetry, intermixed with stunning original movement, music, and evocative projected imagery, captured the essence of Antonio's journey. The performance was a breathtaking tribute to the human spirit, the power of love and creativity, and the beauty of life itself. And Antonio Edwards Suarez was the perfect embodiment of this message - a true artist, a devoted father, and an incredible narrator.
Suarez is a man of many talents. He earned his M.F.A. in Acting from the prestigious American Repertory Theater/Moscow Art Theater at Harvard University and his B.F.A. in Acting from Marymount Manhattan College— where he has taught for over twelve years. Antonio's Song is grippingly poignant and an enthralling narrative; however, some portions of this performance have vitriol slurs, brutality, and sexual and child abuse, verbiage that can make sure feel discomfiting. Yet, in the end, Antonio found the balance he sought. He realized that his art and his family were not mutually exclusive but rather two sides of the same coin.
Let's Play Theatrical Review Highly Recommends Antonio's Song - I Was Dreaming of A Son
Goodman Theatre
Antonio's Song - I Was Dreaming of A Son
By Dael Orlandersmith and Antonio Edwards Suarez
Directed by Mark Clements
Runs Apr 28 – May 28, 2023
