Goodman Theatre’s “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao,” with Lenin Izquierdo/Photo: Jay Towns
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“I am a lot of things,” Oscar says after Jenni says he’s weird. Succinct, but true. Oscar speaks with clear intention, a desire to know and understand the world around him, and a devotion to being fully himself—regardless of what others have to say on the matter. His mannerisms are exacting and thoughtfully curated, his excitement unravels at the mention of a beloved franchise, comic or “Dungeons & Dragons” metaphor. For all intents and purposes, Oscar is a nerd, though, to his point, he is a lot of other things too. Enfolded in the cultural context of a Dominican Republic diaspora, “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao” is an enchanting exploration of the self by way of Oscar’s life and his family’s fukú (curse), which connects back to the brutal dictatorship of Rafael Leónidas Trujillo Molina.
Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning book of the same name by Junot Díaz, the play by Marco Antonio Rodriguez is a thrilling blend of the real and surreal. We are thrown into Oscar’s world by director Wendy Mateo. So much so that even the crew members moving set pieces or props are dressed like Oscar: This is his world; we are simply existing in it. We see the fukú, as it appears to him in the form of a pulsating sun ready to consume all that comes close, part of the stunning projections by Stefania Bulbarella. Yet with his knowledge of superheroes, “The Lord of the Rings,” and heroics of all kinds (along with his hopeless romantic heart), Oscar believes he can overcome this generational curse.
Goodman Theatre’s “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao”/Photo: Jay Towns
And who is our hero? None other than Lenin Izquierdo, who makes Oscar as big-hearted on stage as one could imagine. Izquierdo is immediately captivating from the first moment to the last. While the show’s nearly three-hour run-time could sound like a detriment, it could have been longer and still never dropped my attention for a second. With every smile, Izquierdo leads us deeper into Oscar’s world, beckoning us to listen. Alongside his mother and grandmother (played by Yohanna Florentino and Rossmery Almonte, respectively), Oscar finds his way with the help of his roommate Yunior (Kelvin Grullon) and sister Lola (Julissa Calderon). Along with Arik Vega and Jalbelly Guzmán as several characters, this cast is easily the best I’ve seen in recent memory.
While Oscar’s journey is largely about his identity as a Dominican American with Taíno ancestry, it is inextricably about his overall relation to the world as well. Oscar’s personality reads as immediately neurodivergent, particularly from this critic who is also neurodivergent. Difficulty understanding social cues, an elevated manner of speech and hyperfixation on his niche topics—Oscar was particularly endearing to me. I can’t say whether Díaz wrote him that way on purpose, but it was heartening to see someone who experiences the world in many of the same ways I do portrayed on stage as the central character, without the focus being on what makes him different.
If you aren’t fluent in Spanish, there are a few moments that may be lost to you as the dialogue flips from English to Español. But just as I argued in my review of “Layalina” in 2023, we are not entitled to understanding every single line. You don’t have to understand what is being said to know what is happening. The world is many things to many people, as is this play. That’s why “Oscar Wao” ultimately asks us not to simply listen with our ears, but to listen with our hearts.
“The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao” is on stage at the Goodman Theatre, 170 North Dearborn, through April 12. Tickets are available here.
