%20(1).png)
Native Gardens
Directed by Lisa Devine
Produced by MainStage Irving-Las Colinas
Running Time: 2 hours with a 15 min intermission
Accessible Seating: Available, call or email ahead of time
Hearing Devices: Not Available
Sensory Friendly Showing: Not Available
ASL Showing: Not Available
Volume Level: Comfortable volume level
Noises/Visuals to Prepare For: language
Reviewed by Teri Lynn Williams
Good fences make Good neighbors, a simple statement that rings great truth. And, on stage at Mainstage-Irving, the current production of Native Gardens delightfully invites us to witness the saga between feuding neighbors. As possible with any human interaction, new neighbors meet old neighbors, and things quickly devolve into much deeper issues than a simple fence line. Different cultures and different generations collide in this tumultuous, yet oft humorous show. Director Lisa Devine seamlessly blends the conflict and hilarity providing quite an entertaining journey. Native Gardens leans on culturally relevant topics such as race, class, political stance and age. Throughout the play, we the audience are witness to conversations that should be abhorrent to all involved, yet somehow, as seen in real life as well, are continually had.
When you enter the theater, you are instantly aware that you have walked into neighboring backyards with quite varying tastes. Set Designer Joseph Cummings and Set Dresser Jules Rincon dazzle our senses with incredible fine touch details. The apparent differences between the two yards allows us to know immediately what we are about to witness. One side: a colorful, pristine, manicured landscape and the other side, well, not. The simple addition of draping flowers from the stage visually creates such a lovely picture. Alongside this stunning set is the pristine light atmosphere created from Lighting Designer Hank Baldree. Baldree crafted every moment to beautifully embrace us in the time of day. Director Devine had a vision, and it was executed outstandingly by this ace team.
Native Gardens centers around neighbors Tania Del Valle (Lily Garcia) and Pablo Del Valle (Andy Gonzalez-Bendiksen) moving into an affluent neighborhood and sharing a property line with Frank Buckley (Clayton Cunningham) and Virginia Buckley (Laura Sosnowski) At first meet there are pleasantries, good wine and dark chocolate. Garcia could simply not be more adorable as the educated, well spoken, very pregnant Tania. She even makes her foul-mouthed outburst sound precious. As her husband Pablo, Gonzalez-Bendiksen embodies the essence of an up-and-coming lawyer in such a cool effortless manner, you feel as if you are drinking a beer alongside him as a pal. Gonzalez-Bendiksen delivers his lines in such a naturalistic fashion, it felt like backyard conversation. And in contrast to the Del Valle chill and cuteness, The Buckley’s are tornadoes on two feet. Sosnowski never falters once as the rigid Virginia, even in her walk there is a determined upward chin tilt and walking pace which screams of an air of importance. Cunningham, also with a gait of importance, looks like your adorable grandpa, who you hope doesn’t say the wrong thing. Which Frank does. Often. Cunningham somehow makes the insults land softer, making you want to squeeze his cheeks. There is a particular hilarious scene in which Sosnowski and Cunningham are all over the stage, climbing, crawling and with their agility and physical comedic talents, you forget for a moment they are supposed to be the “elder” neighbors. The chemistry of this cast radiates beautifully, especially through the moments of cringe dialogue which could land wrong if not in the hands of this caliber of talent.
Rounding out the neighbors is the ensemble. A trio without spoken words full of light, hilarity and fun. Rue Khadim, Lorenzo Alejandro, and Jaymes White bring moments alive with expressive faces and focused tasks.
Director Devine and team truly give us a wonderful production of Native Gardens. We don’t leave feeling discouraged about humanity, rather we leave feeling like "everybody wins!” as patron Benjamin McElroy exclaimed in the lobby post show.
So don’t miss your chance to be part of the story. Native Gardens runs through March 21st at Mainstage Irving-Las Colinas. Tickets are available at mainstageirving.com
To The Stage,
Teri Lynn Williams
Comments
Post a Comment