“A derecho is a rare, long-lasting wind storm that's associated with a band of thunderstorms or showers that move quickly”.
The La Jolla Playhouse , Mandell Weiss Forum Theatre, is currently showing Noelle Viñas world premiere production of “Derecho” with Delicia Turner Sonnenberg directing.
Perfect storms don’t always happen when you expect them, but when you see one coming, beware.
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| Ashley Alvarez and Caro Guzman |
Half - sisters Eugenia Silva (Ashley Alvarez) and Mercedes Silva (Caro Guzmán)were brought up as siblings. Both took care of their ailing mother, were proud of their Uruguayan -American heritage and as close as could be, Eugenia had to be perfect in everything she did. She went to the best schools, married an up and coming lawyer Gabe (Luis Vega) and has turned her home in an upscale neighborhood into a showplace.
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| Jorge Sanchez Diaz and Carla Navarro |
Mercedes, on the other hand lived the life of a musician away from the family homestead until she ran out of gigs and money and moved back to live with Eugenia and Gabe. She seemed, always to be in her sister’s shadow, but never forgot her roots.
When we meet up with Eugenia she is getting ready to entertain some friends whom she hopes will be on her committee to run for office in her local district of Northern Virginia. She has invited her very best friends José (Jorge Sánchez Díaz) and Soledad (Carla Navarro) and new baby, from the Hispanic community over with the intention of having Jose , a community leader in his own right and political know all with a long list of on line supporters, to be her campaign manager. Each would balance the ticket with both Latino and White votes.
In the meantime, husband Gabe invited his rich white school friend Eric, (Andrew Gallop) to join in the party and perhaps throw in some big bucks as well; not Eugenia kind of greedy money, but money all the same according to Gabe. While all this is going on, a storm is brewing outside (Germán Martínez). Winds and rain, thunder and lightning can be heard while they all look out the large window to see a fallen tree caused by the storm.
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We soon find out that Eric and Eugenia were once lovers and that she has been carrying around a secret for years that was harmful to her sister and best friend.
And there is much more in this 95 minute stormy picture.
Politics and family rivalries, unspoken secrets, guilt and pride, trust issues, unrealized dreams, poverty and racism, social stature and more overflow in conversation and in so doing, the storm within grows, secrets are revealed that can never be taken back. With all that’s going on, it’s difficult to focus on any one issue. Every now and then the sisters break through the fourth wall and find their once lost rhythm and reconnect.
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| Jorge Sanchez Diaz, Luis Vega and Ashley Alvarez |
No novice at difficult and complicated stories, Turner Sonnenberg has tackled these issues in many of the plays she directed at Moxie theatre. (“Bluest Eye”, “Trouble in Mind”) She found here stride with each character in Viñas’ play from the determined Alvarez’ Eugenia to the more nuanced Guzmán’s Mercedes to the opinionated Díaz as José to the loving and understanding of Vega’s Gabe.
Scenic designer Tanya Orellana makes Eugenia and Gabe’s upscale house easy to move around in. Costume designer Dominique Fawn Hill’s clothes fit the personalities of each character. Eugenia’s conservative outfit was in direct opposition to Mercedes somewhat hippie looking garb. The guys clothes also fit the personalities.
Unless one is living under a rock these days, it’s difficult not to feel the turbulence of the political climate before this election. As much of the play’s center is directed at the political, economic and racial issues of the day as we are witnessing this moment in time, the stormy relationship between the sisters, we hope, will work its way through.
Me thinks the storm has just begun.
On another note, the playwright might have cut back some of the issues and shorten the play by fifteen or so minutes.
You be the judge.
Enjoy.
See you at the theatre.
Through Aug. 18. 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 1 and 7 p.m. Sundays
Where: Mandell Weiss Forum, La Jolla Playhouse, 2910 La Jolla Village Drive, UCSD La Jolla
Tickets: $29-$74
Photo: Rich Soublet II.
Phone: (858) 550-1010
Online: lajollaplayhouse.org
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