“FIVE STARS ...a carefully orchestrated script by playwright Mark Loewenstern, who skillfully tap dances through the many conflicting layers of Puente.”
“It’s an indictment of a social system that too easily ignores or loses track of the old, the infirm, and the emotionally challenged. Dorothea Puente Tells All! was sold out before the production even opened. That is unprecedented in local theater and is a testament to the allure of its subject. … Her story is important and there is much to be learned from it.”
(5f, 3m)
Dorothea Puente was a lifelong con-artist. Her abuse of the welfare system led directly to new federal legislation. In the Latinx community, she was loved as a pillar of the community though she herself was white. On November 11, 1988, police discovered 7 bodies buried in Dorothea Puente's yard, thanks in large part to the heroic efforts of a humble volunteer social worker. Mrs. Puente never stopped maintaining her innocence and some never stopped believed her. In unraveling the truth of Dorothea Puente, this play also shows the rest of us something about our own needs and vulnerabilities, and how we can protect ourselves from people who would exploit us.
Productions:
California Stage Company, Sacramento, CA, 2020