El Rey del Pollo
Running Time: 100 minutes with no intermission
Accessible Seating: Available
Hearing Devices: Not Available
Sensory Friendly Showing: Not Available
ASL Performance: Not Available
Sound Level: Comfortable Volume
Noises/Visuals to Prepare For: Some thunder during storm scene, knife used during cooking scenes
I was a touch nervous to attend this show. I wasn't sure exactly how much Spanish I was going to need to know. Honestly speaking, I don't speak much at all, muy poca. Two years of High School Spanish, two more in college and about a semester's worth of Duolingo later and I still know almost nothing! Casi nada! (Don't be impressed; I'm using Google Translate.) So, when the press release came across my email for El Rey del Pollo, (The Chicken King? The King of Chicken? or is it King of the Chicken? *shrug*) I wasn't sure I'd be equipped to review it.
I read a little closer, where the synopsis on the press release said that it's a spoof on King Lear. Hold on! Shakespeare? That, I can do! Similar to King Lear, this is the story of a man with three daughters who is ready to retire and divide his kingdom. And, although plenty of Spanish has made its way into the script, as well as common Shakespearean phrases (not only from King Lear, but from several of his plays,) we are carefully guided through the storyline by Jovane Caamano, The Narrator (his name is Jeff!) who introduces us to who's-who and what's-what, as it plays out in front of us. Sound Designer, John M. Flores creatively incorporates a light "ding" of a bell whenever Jeff needs us to pause and listen for narration or clarification.
El Rey, the Chicken King himself is Raymundo Lear, played with authoritative stubbornness by DFW's seasoned, veteran actor/director, Joe Chappa. His kingdom, a chain of three restaurants of Hispanic/Fried Chicken Cuisine in Uptown, Midtown and Downtown will be perfectly divided among his daughters, as long as they can each express their undying, unending love to him. Yeah, I know, a little self-absorbed, if you ask me. Eldest daughter, Gisela (Caitlin Chapa, Joe Chappa's real-life daughter) speaks first. Gushing with sentiment and syrupy sweetness (you know, the kind that makes you sick to your stomach,) Gisela kisses the ground he walks on, for which, she is rewarded with her portion of the kingdom. Raquel's (Carrie Viera) speech follows, full of flattery and bloated with bootlick, and is likewise rewarded. Youngest daughter, and clearly his favorite, Cordelia (Mia Azuaje) has always been trustworthy, reliable and the hardest working of all the daughters--perfect in every way--except in words, which fail her miserably. She cannot express her love for her father in words, but that doesn't mean that she doesn't love him, it's just cool to be put on the spot like that. Azuaje's Cordelia is sensible and good-natured; one who knows how to work hard, dance a little and enjoy a good laugh. When her speech falls flat, Joe Chappa embraces Raymundo's pride and machismo; he is quick to deny her the inheritance and throw her to wolves--fired, out the door, Adios! We are shocked, aghast, crushed! (I mean, if you've seen King Lear, you know it's coming, but you get the idea.) But, this is a different Cordelia, one who is much more independent and self-sufficient. She finds her own way, albeit next door: Escar-2-go is hiring and Pierre (The Narrator/Jeff/ Caamano does a fantastic job of shape-shifting!) could really use the help. Our girl is hired on the spot! And, knowing her sisters well, (nicknamed "Clueless" and "Compensating") she keeps a close eye on her dear old Papa, since her sisters waste no time kicking him out and denying him his much-needed "nooner" (not that kind of nooner--God! That's a completely different play!)
And it wouldn't be a Shakespearean story, without a "Meanwhile." Meanwhile, Ray's brother, Gilberto (Raymond Banda) navigates nonsense between his sons. Two hermanos, not alike in dignity: The unwholesome, vegan-eating line cook, and wanna-be-Sous-Chef Edmundo (Ron Fernandez,) and the elder, more responsible son, Edgardo (the one-and-only, hilarious Rudy Lopez) who boasts an Associate's degree in Culinary Arts and has the upper hand and Sous Chef title in Gilberto's restaurant. Fernandez's evil "Heinz Doofenshmirtz-ish" Edmundo will have his nuts and eat them too. Because, he is nuts!
El Rey del Pollo is bursting with color, metaphorically and visually speaking! Nicholas Thornburg's set design utilizes traditional Mexican designs full of bright hues and textures on the walls and tables in El Rey del Pollo's restaurant setting, and fiesta party banners draped from the ceiling. Eli Reed's lighting design switches abruptly from white light to brilliant pigments upon Jeff's "dings" during narration and back again; while his darker tents are used during Lear's/Ray's impressionable storm scene. Embroidered aprons dressed in Mexican floral and striped patterns pop attractively on the actors through Jessi Chavez's costume design.
Directed by Amanda Nicole Reyes, El Rey del Pollo is non-stop laughter from start to finish, with a few moments of real-talk sprinkled in. Housed in the beautiful Bath House Cultural Center, it's where you need to be this weekend--No Spanish (or Shakespeare) experience needed to apply! Tickets are available at echotheatre.org. First responders, military, nurses and teachers can take advantage of Echo's Free Ticket program, as well!
Enjoy the Show!
Natalie
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