Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – Ximena Esparza, Vallarta’s favorite ‘vixen,’ performs a new cabaret show, ‘Some Like It Hot,’ every other Friday at 7:30 pm in the Casa Karma Red Room at Act2PV. Puerto Vallarta entertainment writer, Gary Beck, who attended a recent performance, tells us about this not-to-be-missed show.
Ximena Esparza in ‘Some Like It Hot’
The title is a 1959 American film, directed, produced and co-written by Billy Wilder, starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon. It is a classic and historic flick with the ultra-famous shot of Marilyn in a dress blown upwards by subway airs.
Temperature is rising in the room. Ximena Esparza, who stars in It’s Britney, B*tch, started the night with Title track, Some Like It Hot: “Some feel the heat and decide that they can’t go on. Some like it hot, but you can’t tell how hot ’til you try…” She was accompanied by two hot muscled men and the excellence in choreography was evident from the start. Every movement was exact.
“I’m so happy and excited about this show. Based on the style of Marilyn Monroe, I’ll be finally sharing who I really am. This show will not be another tribute to Marilyn Monroe, although of course there will be many references. This show will be a window into my life. I wrote this show from the bottom of my heart, to tell a story never before told, my story. This is an incredible challenge and a very big dream that I’m ready to fulfill,” Ximena exclaimed. She was thrilled that her mother and other family members were present to watch her new creation and cheer her on with pride. Ximena is multi talented and the stars are beaming brightly over her future.
In a song seemingly written for her at this moment, she sang Let Me Be Your Star: “Norma Jean’s gone. She’s moving on. Her smile and your fantasies will make you forget where you are the music starts playing. It’s the beat of her heart.”
Ximena sounds as excited about this new show as are the members of the audience, as she debuts a new cabaret show dedicated to sexy determined women. Men were in the picture at all times. She talks about her own life, through the personal and professional disappointments. She has come to realize that she must be “Me” and proudly announced at one point in the evening that she was now “Myself”.
Video screens of Marilyn Monroe portray moments in ‘the good old days’. This star experienced ups and downs with men but maintained a steady eye on her movie career. Ximena Esparza started at Act2PV when only eleven, in A Chorus Line, leading to many musicals, and is currently performing in Mamma Mia! and a Britney Spears Tribute. Now she is the lead star of a local production.
Dipping back to the early years of Peggy Lee, Ximena presented 1942’s Why Don’t You Do Right with a sultry blues treatment. Images of a small intimate jazz club, most likely in New York City, are conjured up by this performer, a stunning trailblazer of not only women in music, but also jazz and blues.
Neal Sedaka’s clever song Stupid Cupid was a smash in 1958 for Connie Francis. Ximena bounced to this cry to the God of Love, “Stop picking on me”, all the while swinging across the stage, often in the arms of her two dancers. She chose It Hurts Like Hell from Aretha Franklin to demonstrate how difficult her life has been at times, but she has survived very well.
Let’s Be Bad, sings Ximena, calling for breaking the mold. “If you say something is taboo, well, that’s the thing I want to do.” She does not wish to be tied down by the demands of society. Her freedom in life and career she asserts belongs to her and her alone. She has been climbing the ladder and will not allow anyone to push her down. Ximena is a woman of strength and the theatrical community will be seeing even more of her in coming seasons. Her exceptional talent is undoubtable.
A sweet love ballad. followed with Marilyn’s song. I Want To Be Loved By You. Soft swaying marked the segment. Expressing determination, Ulises approached singing I Don’t Care What People Say. Ximena noted that there are always some people around her who wish to bring her down, but she has developed a strong approach to her life and it is hers alone. She donned a pair of knee high white boots to show off her strutting and singing These Boots Are Made For Walking. Nancy Sinatra was the model for this act and Ximena pounded the floors. No one could sit still and some sang along to this famous tune.
Time to close for tonight and she relied on Marilyn’s classic cooing song, Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend. This lady knows what she wants and is learning exactly how to obtain whatever she desires. She introduced once again her two hot dancers and choreographer Ulises and the four took their bows to a standing ovation. Word will spread like wildfire, as evidenced by the response this show received.
Artistic Director and Producer – Ximena Esparza
Dancers – Stiven Bermúdez and Pedro Borbua
Choreography, Singer, Dancer – Ulises Pérez Torres
Tech and Lighting Designs – Pat Macias
Ximena Esparza’s Some Like it Hot is presented every other Friday at 7:30 pm in The Casa Karma Red Room at Act2PV. Tickets to all shows are available online at Act2PV.com.
For more of Gary’s Puerto Vallarta show reviews, join his More of Beck’s Best: Theater, Cabaret and More! group on Facebook.
Act2PV is located at the corner of Basilio Badillo and Insurgentes in Zona Romantica. If you have questions, please send an email to info(at)act2pv.com. For more information about shows, or to buy tickets, check out their website or go to the box office, now open 3:00 pm to 10:00 pm daily.
