Starting October 11, the CSUDH Theater will host four presentations of the play, “The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity,” written by Kristoffer Diaz and directed by Toro alumna Stefani Baez.
“Chad Deity” follows the trials and tribulations of a Puerto Rican pro wrestling superfan named Macedonio Guerra, who goes by the nickname “Mace.”
Mace’s love of the ring pushes him to become a pro wrestler, only to get pigeonholed into portraying a Mexican luchador character. Despite Mace’s actual roots, the promoters of THE Wrestling (a fictionalized version of WWE), seek to push stereotypes to rile up audiences. Alongside his smooth-talking partner, Vigneshwar Paduar, Mace fights to put those heat-seeking gimmicks down for the count.
Their only problem is Chad Deity, whose battles against “foreign” enemies like Mace and Paduar have made him THE Wrestling’s all-American star. Director Baez described the play as a “geopolitical allegory” focused on race, xenophobia, ego, and the moral fabric of contemporary U.S. society. She called “Chad Deity” the “most exciting play” she had read all year.
Third-year theatre arts student Jabari Williams, Jr., who plays the titular Chad Deity, emphasized the importance of immersing himself in the character. “It’s all about energy, I put shades on, too, so I’m really in the space of Chad,” said Williams, Jr. “I’m Chad until the director says cut, that’s when I’m Jabari again.”
Mace is played by Jaime Emiliano Bañuelos, also a third-year theatre arts student. He described his process for preparing for his role. “A lot of the character building for me is understanding the story that Mace is trying to tell,” said Bañuelos.
“The emotions that not only he is remembering, but also that he’s feeling in these moments of remembrance.” “I’m paying attention to specific moments that Chad or Mace may take, in order to help me visualize what the ref is doing in that moment,” said senior theatre arts major Nathan Him, who plays the referee.
“Is he engaging? Is he pointing to something? Is he signaling for anything?”
Him had a fantastic line about what he and his co-stars will do to put on a great show: “Punch ‘em! Powerbomb ‘em! Pin ‘em!”
Williams, Jr. hopes audiences will enjoy themselves and feel like they are “watching wrestling,” and feel empowered to cheer on the characters as if they were watching a real match. Baez, the director, wants audiences to remember that the actor’s performance is meant to “hold a mirror
up to the audience… when they watch a show they are really watching a reflection of themselves.”
Baez hopes audiences will enjoy the show without losing sight of the greater message about the flaws in pop culture they consume every day, specifically with regard to xenophobia and misogyny.
“Live in the story, and enjoy the ride,” Bañuelos said. “Whether you like it, you cry, or you’re angry,” Bañuelos said.
