THE PLAY YOU WANT AT THE ROAD MAGNOLIA

PHOTO CREDIT:  Elizabeth Kimball

“THE PLAY YOU WANT” PHOTO CAPTION #1

Natalie Llerena and Peter Pasco

 

The Play You Want By Bernardo Cubria is a theatre person’s play.  Home Town Opening Night Adrenalin was flowing well before the curtain went up at the Road Theatre on Magnolia.   

Cubria’s strong statement about life as a playwright bubbles with angst and energy as Bernado (Peter Pasco) sits awkwardly profile with his agent Chloe (Natalie Llarena). He needs a production. He writes about Mexican Clowns.. from the heart.  Bottom line is that Barnardo has got to get a show up or Chloe is quits. Marital angst blossoms when his wife, Vera (Chelsea Gonzalez.. doubling in other parts), confronts Bernado with the realities of fatherhood and family. In the face of what looms as success for Bernado.

Brian Graves’s bulky set lumbers here and there to create the various abstract venues where:  lo and behold!  a silly story Bernardo recalled about his abuela and tamales that he jotted down on his phone while sitting on the can whisks us away on a journey from obscurity to: 

First:  a reading at the Public Theatre! We meet the Yalies! Oskar Eustis (Stewart J. Zully) rushes the show into production. 

And then, Lin Manuel Miranda (Roland Ruiz) pops in to tell Bernie that he’s on his way to Broadway..   Cubria in real life has a resume of credits as long as tu brazo.  He’s written for TV! In the spirit of the Mexican Clown "The Play You Want" exposes truths wrapped in farce. 

It is all rolled up into : Applause.

The beauty of this piece is the amazing transformations that the cast of seven talented actors facilitates with grace.

Jonathan Nichols as Gilbert Cruz is bravado personified and later as Alfred Molina, is having way too much fun.  Cruz (a real life ‘working’ actor, whom I met recently on Facebook!)  appears in a Tequila Dream to Bernardo to discuss how this is the playwright’s opportunity to give "what for" for the Mexicans. Don’t fuck it up.

The protean skills of each of these actors has the audience in their collective palms.  A brilliant turn to create Pablo, the two year old son of Vera and Bearnado, is played with a puppet brought to life by  Roland Ruiz.. remember him as Lin? 

The success of "Nar Cocos", a loopy story of Bernardo's Abuela (Presciliana Esparolini) we experinece at the beginning of the show, is expanded and then with the input of stars Gloria Estafan (Esparolinia again), JLo (in a great blonde wig Natalie Llerena again) and aforementioned Nichols as Molina, the egos rock. The send up rocks. As director  Chay Yew (Christopher Larkin also Sam Gold!) gets his 'bitches in a row' stroking the hair of Mija (Natalie Llerena  who comes back as JLo) who is not so sure she likes it.  Beautiful moment!

Enter the umpteen Tony winning producer, Scott Rudin (Stewart J. Zully). We learn that this show, to really draw the audience,  must include a Baby in a Cage.  Compromise?  Si Señor..  

Lately, I've been taken to task for mentioning moments in a play in what is essentially a great review (which I intend this review to be!)  that I think could be improved.  The play has a moment where something happens in the dark that may have been a missed light cue, but screwed up the logic of what happened next.  Your assignment, and I hope you will take it,  is to to see this great piece of theatre and see if you can catch it.  Good luck. 

Just go.

Highly recommended.  I also love the Mexican Lottery Poster!

Parking under the theatre is available. 

 

THE PLAY THAT YOU WANT 

By Bernado Cubria

Directed by Michael John Garcés

The Road Theatre on Magnolia

10747 Magnolia Blvd, 

North Hollywood, CA 91601 

Thursday, March 10 at 8pm; will open on Friday, March 11 at 8pm and run through Sunday, April 24, 2022.       

Performances :

 Fridays at 8pm; Saturdays at 8pm; Sundays at 2pm through Sunday, April 3. 

Performances continue in repertory beginning Thursday, April 7 at 8pm; Saturdays at 2pm & Sundays at 7:30pm through Sunday, April 24.  

There will be no performances March 26, 26 or 27.

Ticket prices are $39; Students and Seniors are $15.00; Previews are $15.00.  

Sunday Performances are Pay-What-You-Can.  Three Play Season Pass is $75.00.  

Special group rates available for parties of 8 or more.  For tickets, please call 818-761-8838 or visit www.RoadTheatre.org to purchase tickets online or to view complete schedule. 

 

The Road Theatre
PRESENTS
THE PLAY YOU WANT *Peter Pasco Chelsea Gonzalez Roland Ruiz  Bernardo   Peter Pasco*   Abuela/Gloria Estefan   Presciliana Esparolini*   Vera/Assistants   Chelsea Gonzalez   Chloe/Mija/JLO   Natalie Llerena   Sam Gold/ Chay Yew/ Variety Reporter   Christopher Larkin*   Gilbert Cruz/Alfred Molina   Jonathan Nichols*   Lin Manuel Miranda/Mijo/Pablo/John Leguizamo   Roland Ruiz   Oskar Eustis/Scott Rudin   Stewart J. Zully*	I	Director   Michael John Garcés   Playwright   Bernardo Cubría   Producer   Carlyle King   Producer   Danna Hyams   Producer   Christina Carlisi   Stage Manager   Maurie Gonzalez   Associate Producer   Amayah Watson   Dramaturg Under Construction   Jessica Broutt   Set Design   Brian Graves   Sound Design   Marc Antonio Pritche