In its physical art form, a "retablo" is a devotional painting on a piece of repurposed metal, offered as a vow of thanks to a higher being for helping someone survive a crisis. Director and prolific playwright Octavio Solis interprets the retablo through the written word in 50 short pieces that soulfully revisit moments in his life as the U.S.-born son of Mexican immigrants. Retablos marvels in its demonstration of the vast understatement of the proverb "Good things come in small packages."
The introduction alone is worth the price of admission. Solis reflects on the foundation of the work ("true stories... filled with lies") and how memories evolve over time--creating life fables that elaborate on experiences, like "lace trimming on a tablecloth." Each piece recounts a specific memory, wholly satisfying even in its brevity.
The collection covers a spectrum of topics in nonlinear fashion, and Solis insightfully displays his own perceived shortcomings rather than painting over them. Particularly touching entries recall his hardworking parents, such as his mother's repeated and wistful drives past a pretty bungalow ("Our Other House"). Another instance is how Solis's perception of being a "junior" changes over the course of a day at work with his father ("First Day"). Solis's language is both lovely and discomfiting, compelling return visits to the borderlands of El Paso.
Taken as a whole, Retablos becomes a glorious mosaic, as if one has stepped back from a single piece of strikingly painted tin and watched a larger masterpiece emerge. --Lauren O'Brien of Malcolm Avenue Review