REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES by Carol Kaufman Segal       

            Real Women Have Curves is a play by Josefina Lopez that takes place in a small sewing factory in East Los Angeles in 1987.  It premiered in 1990 and was adapted into a film in 2002.  It centers on issues of women, Latina immigrant experiences, and politics, and has been updated to today, earmarking its relevance to present times as it was decades ago.  The entire production is presented by an all-woman team from the director (Mary Jo Duprey) to the scenic designer (Tanya Orellana), and everyone involved in putting on a show.

            The cast includes Ana (Julianna Stephanie Ojeda) who recently graduated from high school, Estela (Sherry Mandujano), Ana’s older sister and owner of the factory, Carmen (Blanca Aracelli) mother of Ana and Estela, Pancha (Jackie Garcia), and Rosalie (Claudia Duran).  All of the ladies work together in Estela’s factory.   Each one bears a self-image problem of her own. Ana, the youngest, is looking forward to going to college.  She is not happy working at the factory, but needs the money, and her sister needs her.  She tells the story through the writing in her journal.   

            Estela admits to everyone that she has gotten herself deep in debt, has fallen behind on a scheduled order for dresses to be completed, doesn’t have her green card, and is fearful of being deported unless she gets the order completed in a week to pay off her debts.   She is counting on all of them pitching in with her in order to save her and the factory. 

            The women are all for helping Estela and pull together as they work in secret, fearful of being raided by immigration authorities.  Throughout the week, with the windows and doors tightly closed in the heat of the summer, they find themselves airing problems with one or another.   However, there is never any true animosity between them.  More often they are in good moods and seem to have formed a bond with each other through the many hours working together.

            The heat finally gets to Ana and she strips down to her underwear as she speaks of feeling secure in her own body.  Her action gets her co-workers on a rampage, each one stripping down to their underwear, while relaying their views about their own bodies.  This, of course, is the climax of all that we have seen throughout the play and leads to the finale to show that Real Women Have Curves.

            The play, after all is a comedy though based somewhat on Josefina Lopez’s own life when she worked in her sister’s factory.  It gives an insight into the experiences faced by immigrants and proves the power of women.  All five women in the production proved their ability with their flawless performances.

            Real Women Have Curves plays Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8 PM, Sundays at 3 PM, through Nov. 18, at the Garry Marshall Theatre, 4252 Riverside Dr., Burbank.  Tickets are available online at GarryMarshallTheatre.org, or by calling (828) 955-8101.  Select performances will be presented Wednesday, Oct. 17 at 8 PM, Saturday, Oct, 27 at 2 PM, Sunday Nov. 4 at 7:30 PM, and Wednesday Nov.7 at 8 PM.