Prepare to have your history textbooks updated: the legendary Underground Railroad wasn’t solely a northern passage. In a lesser-known but equally vital chapter, it also journeyed south, guiding thousands of enslaved people across the Rio Grande into the sanctuary of emancipated Mexico.
This powerful, forgotten narrative bursts to life in “Mexodus,” a groundbreaking hip-hop musical by Brian Quijada and Nygel D. Robinson. It’s a masterful blend of historical fiction and an improvisational jam session, overflowing with inventive curiosity and ingenious use of technology.
This electrifying theatrical experience, currently at Audible’s Minetta Lane Theater, is a sonic marvel. Quijada and Robinson craft their entire musical world from scratch using live looping. They begin with the soulful plucks of a stand-up bass, resonant acoustic guitar strums, and a cascade of piano keys. These foundational sounds are then layered with captivating beatboxing, smooth vocals, and even an accordion, creating a rich, evolving tapestry of sound. Each instrument adds a new dimension, building the “ark” of a song that carries the audience on its waves – a truly dazzling display of musical ingenuity and the sheer joy of creation.
Having previously graced stages at Baltimore Center Stage, Mosaic Theater Company of Washington, D.C., and Berkeley Repertory Theater, Quijada and Robinson seamlessly transition between multiple roles. They are vibrant M.C.s, drawing on hip-hop’s call-and-response tradition, and compelling griots, sharing memory-laden monologues with the audience. They act as passionate disruptors, advocating for Black and Latino liberation, and ultimately embody Carlos and Henry, two fictional men from opposing sides of the U.S.-Mexico border whose survival becomes intertwined.
Carlos, a former medic haunted by his desertion in the Mexican-American War, struggles on a farm. Henry, an enslaved Texan, is on the run after a desperate act against his master. Their paths converge when Carlos rescues the injured Henry from the Rio Grande. What begins as a begrudging alliance born of necessity blossoms into a deep friendship, adding a profoundly personal layer to the narrative. This clever artistic choice grounds Quijada and Robinson’s meticulous archival research in a heartwarming, yet often poignant, buddy tragicomedy.
As your charismatic guides through this immersive history lesson, Quijada and Robinson are nothing short of phenomenal. Their musical prowess is matched only by their lightning-fast, linguistically Olympic-level rapping. They sing like enchanting sirens and effortlessly command a stage overflowing with instruments, meticulously arranged across Riw Rakkulchon’s brilliant quasi-barn set (which cleverly doubles as a shipping container, a treasure trove of hidden musical tools). The constant toggling between instruments and the rapid-fire lyrical delivery create a never-ending, metaphorical spiral, mirroring the musical loops themselves. In one particularly evocative scene, Henry offers to help Carlos dig a trench, but instead of shovels, they pick up guitars, miming the laborious task with rhythmic strums.
Despite the show’s seemingly freestyle flow, director David Mendizábal orchestrates “Mexodus” with the precision and fluidity of a perfect cypher. While it appears to be an incredibly demanding performance, Quijada and Robinson never lose their composure, even as tempos surge. And let’s not forget Mikhail Fiksel, the unseen architect and sound designer of the intricate looping systems, who exhibits sheer technical mastery for the entire 90-minute runtime, a true flex of audio engineering genius.
Together, these artists have forged a truly dynamic and vital piece of theater: a world where fierce rap seamlessly intertwines with tender bolero; where English and Spanish dance freely, reflecting the border’s cultural fusion; and where cross-cultural solidarity isn’t just an aspiration, but an absolute necessity. It’s a powerful counter-narrative to the divisive forces of colonialism, colorism, and other societal distractions. Quijada and Robinson don’t just preach unity; they embody it on stage. While “Mexodus” will undoubtedly be available on Audible, this extraordinary hip-hop homily is an experience that demands to be witnessed live.
Mexodus
Through Oct. 18 at Audible’s Minetta Lane Theater, Manhattan; mexodusmusical.com. Running time: 1 hour 30 minutes.