Somewhere

THEMES FOR DISCUSSION Dreams

by Aurelia Clunie

Inez Candelaria firmly believes in the power of dreams. She rests her faith in ushering those dreams into reality. She steadfastly believes nothing short of dreaming big will deliver the Candelarias to success. She encourages her children to dream big, too. Her identity and her family’s identity are closely linked to holding on to dreams. From the night she met her husband, Pepe, to the present, dreams have guided her. “We are a family of dreamers. We force the world to look like our dreams. We do not force our dreams to look like the world” (Act 1, scene 2). Now, the Candelarias see the world reflecting their dreams.

Priscilla Lopez and Michael Rosen in Somewhere.

Photo by T. Charles Erickson.

Jerome Robbins has directed a musical that features Puerto Rican characters, Chita Rivera, and strong dancing as storytelling.

Inez has raised all of her children to follow their dreams. Rebecca and Jamie do so with abandon.

Jamie has become the successful assistant to Jerome Robbins by putting in long hours at rehearsal and seizing opportunities. Rebecca is eager to seize opportunities as they come, even though she is young. By following Inez’ lead, each experiences a degree of success. However, Alejandro is concerned he cannot afford to pursue the dream of dancing. He feels he must work to support the family. While he truly loves dance, for Alejandro, the dream seems unattainable.

QUESTIONS: 1) In his poem “Dreams,” Langston Hughes writes: Hold fast to dreams For if dreams die Life is a broken-winged bird That cannot fly.

Hold fast to dreams For when dreams go Life is a barren field Frozen with snow.

Examine Alejandro’s personality. How has Alejandro changed since giving up his dream of dancing for more “realistic” needs? Use examples from the text. How does putting off his dream affect Alejandro? Have you ever chosen to walk away dream or goal? How did it make you feel? Did you ever regain your hope of achieving that dream again?

2) Lorraine Hansberry’s play A Raisin In The Sun was on Broadway in 1959, the same year Somewhere takes place. Hansberry uses Hughes’ poem “Harlem” as her epithet for the play. The poem asks “What happens to a dream deferred?” Read A Raisin in the Sun and compare to Somewhere. What dream is deferred in each? How does each affect the Younger and Candelaria families respectively?