'Hombres' is a nuanced take on male friendship

Friendship can be complicated, particularly between men. Notions of masculinity can drive how they communicate with each other and how they navigate the world; at least that’s what playwright Tony Meneses points to in “Hombres.” The play, directed by Armando Rivera, is a co-production of Gloucester Stage Company and Teatro Chelsea with shows offered in English and Spanish. “Hombres” has shows on both stages and concludes its run Sept. 29.

In the narrative, three macho Latino construction workers in New Jersey work across the street from a yoga studio. There, a thin, moneyed group of participants spend time in downward dog and savasana under the tutelage of gay Latino instructor, Julían.

The noise of the construction and the alleged leering glances of the workers, who spend time hocking loogies on passersby below for sport, rattle the women at the yoga studio. Julían, the only male employee at the studio, must confront the construction workers about the noise and their behavior.

It sounds simple, but Julían, who isn’t fluent in Spanish, is afraid of men too. Men signal desire and danger to him. Growing up, Julían (a wonderful Ricardo “Ricky” Holguin) had a crush on his bus driver, Don, who kept him after school for a few minutes one day. Once alone with Don, Julían’s mind raced with all that could happen to him. No foul play occurred, and Julían comes to understand both the implications of peril and his desire for male attention. When Julían confronts Héctor, the construction supervisor, the interaction goes better than anticipated.

Holguin, a kind and open Julían in this show, recently starred in Central Square Theater’s production of “Next to Normal,” where he was a charming therapist who stars in his patient’s hallucinations. Here, he’s completely transformed from a capable medical professional to a vulnerable instructor who dreams of returning to the stage as a dancer.

It’s illuminating to watch Julían create a friendship with Héctor (Arthur Gomez), a former custodian who is on the outs with his wife. He teaches Héctor yoga in exchange for Héctor’s help cleaning the studio. Soon, they develop a deep respect and care for one another.

There’s a lot at play here. Héctor can’t afford the heavy price tag for the classes and tells Julían what it feels like to not be seen by others. Gomez’s solid and somewhat stoic Héctor assures Julían that no trouble will come from their agreement and that if anyone sees him —  a Latino man — cleaning at night, no one will think anything of it.

Meneses, the show’s playwright, crafts some sort of justice here in “Hombres.” Male friendships aren’t usually spotlighted onstage, especially relationships between gay and heterosexual men rife with emotion and vulnerability. He crafts another friendship between the endearingly awkward Miles (Patrick O’Konis), a non-Latino class-goer, and Julían, that offers another take on male friendship. As these relationships develop, the other construction worker, the rabble-rousing Beto (Jaime José “JJ” Hernández), is trying to figure out what the heck is happening with Héctor.

Meneses seems committed to writing about people who aren’t typically centered. In addition to “Hombres,” Meneses has written the comedy “A Thousand Maids” and “Guadalupe in the Guest Room.” The first is a play that explores class, identity and equity through a woman tasked with designing a maid’s costume for a Broadway play. In the other play, Meneses digs into the connection between a grieving widower and his bereft mother-in-law, who bond over drama in a telenovela.

In “Hombres,” the friendships that develop help all the men in some way. Both Héctor and the peace-making Pedro — a reliably talented Luis Negrón from last year’s “A Normal Heart” — who later gets in on the yoga fun, become more centered and make better food choices (think salads with avocado). Miles and Julían learn to understand each other better, and Julían, with the time he gains from not having to clean the studio every night, begins to practice dancing again.

Though some of the dialogue, or at least the ideas behind it, seem a little dated (and there’s an awkward event that appears to come out of left field), the story is necessary.  It’s refreshing to watch this thoughtful examination of male friendships through the lens of race, economics and sexual orientation, where unlikely connections challenge and overcome societal expectations.

Gloucester Stage Company and Teatro Chelsea’s “Hombres” shows at Gloucester Stage Company’s theater until Sept. 22 and shows at Chelsea Theatre Works from Sept. 27-29.