The Rita Hayworth of this Generation

 

Writer-performer Tina D'Elia's... solo comedy spins a queer and ethnically rich world that straddles the living and the dead in a Las Vegas that, let's face it, lies somewhere between those two poles already. Drawing on her own professional obsession with Rita Hayworth (née Margarita Carmen Cansino), the ethnically neutered Hispanic star of 1940s Hollywood, D'Elia plays Carmelita, an ambitious Rita Hayworth impersonator who gets entangled with a Latino/a transgender blackjack champion with a drinking problem and too many deals with the devil.. D'Elia (under director Mary Guzmán), in a production with few frills, proves a sharp and engaging performer, her characters tending to be both endearing and amusingly full-bodied. 

 

Robert Avila

San Francisco Bay Guardian

November 12, 2013

 

 

I Used to Write on Walls

 

D'Elia starred in Bekah Brunsetter's popular I Used to Write on Walls! - "Tina D'Elia nicely differentiates two sexually frustrated moms."

 

-- Robert Hurwitt, The San Francisco Chronicle, January 2010

 

 

Groucho: A Day in the D'Elia Soup

 

"Tina D'Elia's multi-character one-woman play...is startling riveting, engaging, fabulous!"

 

-- Patrick Letellier, Frontiers Magazine, June 2001

 

"D'Elia is a tour-de-force on stage, turning on a dime from one character to the next, bantering back and forth between them, and as Tina, trying to suppress the irrepressible Groucho. She is a natural comedian, with the zany facial expressions and perfect timing of, say, Lucille Ball – make that Lucy and Ricky rolled into one, with energy to spare.Groucho: A Day in the D’Elia Soup wit have you laughing out loud so much that you will miss some lines, and have you wondering how-in-heck D'Elia does it."

 

-- Patrick Letellier, The Slant, August 2001

 

"D'Elia is clearly a talented performer. Her solo show starts with a delicious conceit: faced with a Cinco de Mayo that includes dinner with her visiting grandparents from Colombia, a mother begging her not to come to the conservative older folks, an uber butch girlfriend who’s supposed to stay closeted for the night, and a pressing meeting with a police official to discuss hate crimes, overstressed Latina Lesbian activist Tina does the only sensible thing: she begins channeling Groucho Marx. It’s a wonderfully rich idea that allows D'Elia to satirize old-school misogyny and racism while simultaneously portraying Tina's own closeted self, her conflicted relationship to her powerful sexuality, and her repressed sense of anarchy."

 

-- Brad Rosenstein, San Francisco Bay Guardian, September 2001

 

 

Groucho: the Film

 

"A zany side splitting slapstick comedy...through the queer looking glass."

 

-- Zak Szymanski, Assistant Editor, Bay Area Reporter

 

 

Lucha: the Film

 

"The audience award for the best short film at the Frameline 33 LGBT Film Festival in San Francisco which ran last month went to Maria Breaux director and producer of Lucha, who wrote the screenplay together with Tina D'Elia. The beauty of a short film is that when it is well made everything is there which represents the intention of the filmmaker. Such is the case for Lucha. Lucha in Spanish means "to struggle". Filmed in San Francisco and El Salvador Lucha is the story of two women in love during this time of civil war: Lucha played by Eloisa Ramos and Isabella played by Maria Carolina Morales A. In what is probably their last day together Lucha and Isabella comfort themselves by fantasizing about the war being over in their life in a spacious home by the sea. Lucha is committed to arm struggle. Her tough exterior is also shown in her inability to be vulnerable to Isabella in love scenes that are symbolic of how difficult it was to be in love in El Salvador in 1982. Shots of an El Salvador is peace are inserted with a grainy Super 8 feel of better times. Contemplative photography and editing by Angela Hudson and an insightful music score by Amal Kouttab contribute to Lucha's excellence. Luchais a film that shows the beauty and sadness of two women in love during a war that crushed their dreams. The film will be screened at the art gallery Femina Potens (San Francisco) on August 7th for Open Eyes: Queer Film Night. Here now is Maria Breaux and Tina D'Elia who gave an exclusive interview to Movie Magazine about their film. (Interview follows)."

 

By Moira Sullivan, Magazine International - 07/22/09

 

 

 

The Rita Hayworth of this Generation

 

"Tina has that magic talent to have fun and move the audience at the same time.Extraordinary."

 

David Ford, Writing coach, Director, and Dramaturge

 

"Who else can pull off a Golden Age Hollywood purgatory set in a Las Vegas casino? Tina is brilliant."

 

Maria Breaux, Filmmaker

 

"The Rita Hayworth of this Generation starring Tina D'Elia is a sexy, funny, touching journey of one woman's climb to stardom, and illustrates, with zeal, the love and heartache, joy and loneliness that accompany her on her path to the top. Carmelita Cristina Rivera is a sweet, vibrant young woman with stars in her eyes, and a burning passion for the glamour of show business; however, the true brilliance of this performance is in the handful of characters that she encounters on her travels. Each one so very different form the other, with their own accents, traits and idiosyncrasies which make them powerfully believable and entertaining. The actress makes smooth transitions between characters which makes it easy to follow, a nice connection with the crowd, and her usage of the entire stage was obviously well thought out and choreographed. Hats off to director Mary Guzmán. I plan to see The Rita Hayworth of this Generation again and would highly recommend and encourage you to see it as well."

 

-- Al B.

 

"I went to see this show Opening Night. This is a show you can't miss! Tina not only plays five different characters, but each character grows and changes as a result of the events in the plot. I was mesmerized. I got so lost in the story that I forgot that the same woman (a very talented woman) was playing each part. And the sex scenes are to die for. Thanks for a great evening!"

 

-- Barbara B. - 3/25/2012

 

"So funny!!! A spicy, Latino, Queer fable of Las Vegas Lights and the search for love and fame. This show really blew me away. I honestly don't know how she does it. I mean, every character was fully developed and they all talk to each other! You don't even blink because you get so into it, the plot was clear, and every character made me laugh out loud! I loved that Rita Hayworth had this bad-ass attitude to her and Chelsea, the Australian celebrity-bitch was so funny! Jesus, the Transgender Blackjack King is the crowd favorite; but Angel Torres was my favorite. And the sex-scenes...whoa! You have to see it to believe it. Amazing."

 

-- Eloisa R. - 3/26/2012

 

"I highly recommend this show for those in SF who want to see great acting. Tina D'Elia's range of character and expression in this piece is astounding."

 

-- Colin H. - 3/26/2012

 

"Tina is such a talented performer, great stage presence, voice and characters expression - Highly recommended!!"

 

-- Valerie T. - 3/26/2012

 

I had the pleasure of collaborating with Tina on a musical project for her one woman show "The Rita Hayworth of This Generation." Having admired her and her work for many years, I was very excited to get to work with her creatively. Along with being a super talented actor and writer, Tina is professional and really knows her craft.Her one woman show, "The Rita Hayworth of This Generation" is deeply personal, while being funny and smart. Tina reached deep for this creation, and it shows. The thing that struck me the most about the show is Tina's physical and energetic embodiment of each character. She is mesmerizing to watch on stage.

 

Storm Miguel Florez

Musician/Songwriter/Filmmaker/Produce r& Collaborator on Music for

"The Rita Hayworth of this Generation

 

 

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