Mexodus

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Performer/musicians Brian Quijada and Nygel D. Robinson have written a dynamic, exciting new two-character hip-hop musical in Mexodus, a telling of the little known story of the Underground Railroad that went South to Mexico. It may also be the first New York musical to use live-looping for its soundtrack, with both musicians playing multiple instruments as well. Mexodus not only tells the tale of a Texas slave who escapes to Mexico but also the stories of both of its performers. The current relevance of the show to our immigration situation cannot be overestimated.

A few minutes into the show we are given a statistic which will surprise many that from 1829 to 1865, four to ten thousand African American slaves escaped to Mexico. Robinson, who is Black, then tells us about his childhood in North Carolina while Quijada who is Hispanic describes racism in Chicago when he was growing up. With Robinson as narrator the story begins with his playing Henry, an abused and overworked slave in Victoria, Texas, whose brutal master takes things too far.

In a fight to the finish, Henry kills him to save himself and then attempts to cross the Rio Grande in order to escape to Mexico. Almost drowning, he is saved by Carlos, a farmer whose land for sharecropping is along the river. Carlos tends Henry’s wounds, and expects Henry to help out on his farm once he is better. He gains new respect for this runaway when Henry saves his crop after a torrential rainstorm. When Carlos discovers Henry is a wanted man, we find out that Carlos still feels guilty for abandoning his post and his comrades during the Mexican American War in which he was a medic. A touching friendship grows up amongst these unalike allies.

The show uses live-looping which is the recording and playback of music in real time with this noteworthy score being created from scratch. Fifteen musical instruments are included in Riw Rakkulchon’s remarkable set which the actors play at various times: piano, guitar, accordion, harmonica, double bass, etc.  Not only is the show acted by Quijada and Robinson but they also wrote and perform all of the varied songs, hip-hop, hymn, traditional songs, ballads. Their dynamic performances of this mostly sung-through show elevates this to another level of musical theater.

During the inventive direction of David Mendizábal, the riveting performances of Quijada and Robinson are quite different. Robinson is much more outgoing and physical in his performance as the slave who goes through much hardship both in Texas and in his escape to Mexico as he tells his story. Quijada is more evasive and cunning as the Mexican who has his own problems and personal story. Both are experts at the instruments they play, continually surprising us by their range and virtuosity, as well as making it look easy.

Rakkulchon has created an environment that suggests a barn but also becomes a backdrop for Johnny Moreno’s projections which appear to include documentary footage as well as poetic elements and blow ups of the two actors. The lighting by Mextly Couzin is superbly lyrical creating many moods. Mendizábal’s costumes which change for various scenes are exactly right for the story and the history. Another unsung hero is Mikhail Fiksel who created the looping systems architecture and the sound design, as well as collaborating on the orchestrations with Quijada and Robinson.

Mexodus which is quite unusual in form and storytelling is a very powerful musical both because of its excellence, originality and its timeliness. It is compelling in its story but also reveals a little known chapter in American history. It is also a tale of friendship and a coming together of two men who could have just as likely been enemies. Brian Quijada and Nygel D. Robinson demonstrate both charisma and intensity playing their two protagonists. This is one show that you must experience live to get the full effect of the presentation.

Mexodus (extended through November 1, 2025)

Audible Theater & P3 Productions

Audible’s Minetta Lane Theatre, 18 Minetta Lane, between MacDougal and Sixth Avenue, in Manhattan

For tickets, visit http://www.audiblexminetta.com

Running time: one hour and 40 minutes without an intermission