Where did we sit on the bus? A play review

Who writes your history when you’re not around? Where Did We Sit on The Bus is a one man play by Brain Quijada that seeks to answer this question. Being born into the Latino community, Brain was always seen as a second class citizen by the majority of his peers. One day while learning about the civil rights movement in his elementary class. The teacher was talking about the segregation of black and white citizens. She mentioned that black citizens would have to give up their set on the bus for those who were white. This prompted a question from Brain, “Where did we [Latinos] sit on the bus”? She responded with, “They weren’t there”.

They focus heavily on a topic of modern segregation so to say and use the form of music to get the point across. People who might find it interesting to listen to will be pleased to read that you can find the music for free on Spotify and other streaming services. An honest review of the music however, is that although the core message is meaningful, the sound quality is lacking. It sounds rough and patchy, as if it was recorded by Brain in his bedroom. However, if you manage to overcome the sound quality you might find that the lyrics are decent and carry a good message.

There are a few songs to be warned of thought. The first song will throw you off as a listener due to the sound of a woman giving birth. If you are listening in public, or over a speaker it is recommended to turn the sound a bit down. Unless you might gain some unwanted attention. The lyrics are also highly descriptive of his own personal life and struggles, so if you have had anything major in your life that you still need to work out, then be cautious while listening. With that being said, all the songs have the potential to be enjoyed, so long as the sound quality does not bother you.

The song that takes up the most attention is the title track. It has a good rhythm, catchy chorus, and meaningful insight to the world Brain grew up in. More often than not, it is easy for people to forget about the struggles of others. We are so caught up in our own little bubble that we fail to realize that the bubbles next to us are exploding. A one man indie play is not going to change the world in a drastic way. But it does promote discussions of topics that would be overlooked otherwise. If personal reflection and growth is something that you want to do, then check out Where Did We Sit on The Bus.