LATINXoxo

Dressed in an outfit shouting flamenco dancer and toreador, Migguel Anggelo (a self described  transdisciplinary performing artist), snaps an outsized red fan and the solo music theater performance LatinXoxo begins. 

With musical direction by Jaime Lozano and a new book by J. Julian Christopher, LatinXoxo is conceived by Migguel Anggelo and directed and developed by Srda Vasiljevic. Performed at Joe’s Pub, it’s part of Public Theater’s Under the Radar Theater festival coinciding with the APAP conference.

Fronting a combo of 4 wonderful musicians (Piano and Guitar, Jaime Lozano; Guitar, Alberto Jiménez; Guitar and Bass, Victor Murillo; Percussion, Joel Mateo), Anggelo soars through world-wide Latin hits like “Besame Mucho,” an outstanding mash-up of “Fever” plus original songs and boleros. Stretched across several octaves to a countertenor lyricism, music, spoken word and dance, weave a tale of his relationship to his father — someone he loved but who died when he was 14. 

Behind him, a candle lights a photo of his father who was a matador — something he found both thrilling and fearsome. Although saddened when his father killed a bull, the drama and performance surrounding bullfights clearly influenced Anggelo’s own aesthetic. Never able to confess his queerness to his father, Anggelo still yearns for his approval and love.

Easily connecting with the audience, Anggelo invites a young man up to the stage and sings him a song; later snaking through the audience to get a little closer to his fans. 

An engaging, multi-talented artist, Anggelo’s tightly shaped, heartfelt performance wins over the audience.

EYE ON THE ARTS, NY — Celia Ipiotis