Dog Lady and The Cuban Swimmer
by Milcha Sanchez-Scott

Name: Dog Lady and The Cuban Swimmer
Brand: Milcha Sanchez-Scott
SKU: 9780822203209
Rating: 3.3 (70 reviews)

Dog Lady and The Cuban Swimmer Book Cover — Dog Lady and The Cuban Swimmer Cover

Highlights

Female

Male

One Act45 minsUnit Set/Multiple SettingsComedy

What readers are saying

Readers appreciate the emotional depth and cultural representation in both plays, especially highlighting the bond within families. 'Dog Lady' is noted for its lively depiction of life in the LA barrios, while 'The Cuban Swimmer' resonates with the struggles and aspirations of Cuban-Americans. Overall, the plays evoke strong feelings and relatable experiences for many.

Emotional depth and cultural representationEngaging characters and relatable storiesQuick and lively readSome found it less engaging at times

Synopsis

THE STORIES: In Dog Lady , the setting is a barrio street in Los Angeles, where a young Hispanic woman is in training for a marathon sponsored by a local church.

Egged on by a dogged suitor, she is unable to achieve her best until the local curandera, or faith healer, a loony old woman who lives amid a horde of dogs, endows her with magic powers—which enable her to run swiftly on all fours and easily out distance her fellow competitors.

(2 men, 5 women.) The Cuban Swimmer deals with another instance in which Hispanic-Americans use athletic skills to propel themselves into the mainstream of middle-class life.

Here the action involves a young woman endurance swimmer who races from San Pedro to Catalina Island while her family follows her in a leaky boat.

As they bicker and exhort her, she begins to weary and stray off course—until a spiritual and magical intervention reinvigorates her and she resolves to “dive into the Milky Way and wash my hands in the stars.”

(2 men, 3 women.)