Nowhere On The Border Reviews
Los Angeles Times- Recommended
"...Pilar's story arc remains compelling. Roberto and Gary's, however, holds less suspense and carries the burden of a heavy-handed message. The differences between the men are clear from the get-go: Gary is an ignorant white man, suspicious of outsiders; Roberto is charming and confident, sure of his place in society. What also becomes clear from the start is the trajectory of this relationship, which feels forced and not entirely realistic."
Stage and Cinema- Recommended
"...Ironically, if Nowhere on the Border is successful, it's not in how original it is; it's in how original it isn't. Its story, sadly, isn't particularly unique. But it does both mirror and bring to life the commonplace afflictions of everyday people for whom this reality is ever-pressing: poverty and violence leading them to take desperate measures to survive and, if they're fortunate, live a life of dignity. To these complex realities this lesser work points, and upon these circumstances theatergoers may meditate. It is in these larger truths that we're quenched while traversing Nowhere's all-too-barren desert."
LA Splash- Highly Recommended
"...NOWHERE ON THE BORDER is timely and thought-provoking in an era where political realities may often clash with humanitarian concerns. The talented cast successfully tell the story while treading the fine line between melodrama and reality, kindness and anger, dreams and the mystical."
Stage Scene LA- Somewhat Recommended
"...Nowhere On The Border proves considerably less engaging when flashing back to Pilar's desert trek, accompanied by fellow traveler Jesus (Leandro Cano) and Montoya (a delightfully feisty Diana DeLaCruz), the hiphop-loving female "coyote" they've paid to accompany them on their harrowing journey, not the least because Pilar's fate if not the others' seems pretty much preordained."
The Tolucan Times- Recommended
"...Director Stewart J. Zully draws passionate yet understated performances from the cast. Grissom's Gary hides his vulnerability under a hardnosed veneer, while Nichols' Roberto reveals subtle humor, sensitivity and world weariness. Thom Riviera's smuggler offers ironic humor while Llerena brings fierce strength to despairing Pilar."
On Stage Los Angeles- Recommended
"...Is this a 'good' play? Are the actors 'good'? Did director, Stuart J. Zully, do a good job? Certainly, the herculean effort that The Road Theatre puts into each of their productions I've seen in the past is undeniably 'good' when it comes to sincerity. This play is timely and very important as we observe blatant prejudice and the exploitation of human beings by other human beings in our real world of today."
Gia on the Move- Recommended
"...With a wall being built, and harrowing stories of children being separated from their parents, the border with Mexico has been very much in the news recently. Timely then, that playwright Carlos Lacamara should revise his 2006 one-act play Nowhere on the Border (Jan 17-Mar 8) about a border watch volunteer and the Mexican man he apprehends. The piece is currently playing at The Road Theatre Company in North Hollywood."
Stage Raw- Somewhat Recommended
"...The most powerful work of the evening is delivered during the exchanges between Gary and Roberto. In his portrayal of a volunteer guard attempting to prevent what he considers an invasion, Grissom grows stronger and more engaging as the action progresses toward its almost inevitable conclusion."
Peoples World- Recommended
"...The emotional weight of the play rests on the shoulders of proud Roberto's family. Against his wishes, Pilar has paid a coyote to get her across the border so she can live a normal married life with her husband Nardo, who has been gone for three years now, evaporated into the maw of low-paid immigrant-wage agribusiness. When we meet Roberto, he is waiting in a stretch of desert that he located on a map drawn by someone who believes he saw Pilar."