By Barbara McGuire
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
The game of life is filled with many surprises that can throw
one off course, and sometimes a curve ball is even thrown in,
making things even more difficult to deal with. For most people,
these curve balls are nothing more than a broken heart or a
speeding ticket, but for some, they are things like getting drafted
into the Vietnam war or growing up shamefully as a Latino in a
white community.
“Black Butterfly, Jaguar Girl, Piñata Woman and Other
Superhero Girls, Like Me” and “Drive My Coche,”
two new plays on a double bill at The Actors’ Gang in Hollywood,
focus on such curve balls as well as everyday issues. Part of the
“Taper, Too” 2000 season, these plays are the first to
be performed under the “Taper, Too” after its five-year
hiatus.
“Taper, Too” is a branch of the Mark Taper Forum
which considers itself a testing grounds for new and somewhat
experimental plays. “Taper, Too” productions allow for
a more intimate setting and closer interaction between the audience
and the actors on-stage, with just as interesting shows.
The first play, “Black Butterfly,” created and
directed by Luis Alfaro, follows the “growing-up” years
of five Latino teenagers in East Los Angeles. Each faces various
challenges, some dealing with their culture and nationality, some
dealing with problems any teenager could face. Alfaro based this
story on the writings of East Los Angeles poets Alma Cervantes,
Sandra C. Munoz and Marisela Norte.
The teenagers’ problems are intermixed with comical
moments, such as the embarrassment of one of the girls when the
most popular boy at school calls her and hears in the background
that her family is watching the Spanish channel. Other scenes that
make the audience grin include one in which one of the teens is at
a dance trying to get the boy she likes to notice how
“great” of a dancer she is by attempting some obnoxious
moves. Justina Muchado, Christina Malpero, Zilah Mendoza, Carla
Jimenez and Cristina Frias play the five teenage girls. They all
have their Latino culture in common, though each exhibits a wide
range of personalities.
Such comical, yet realistic issues are brought up alongside more
serious “curve balls.” One of the teens, for instance,
experiences the death of her father. Another deals with the reality
of being slapped by her mother in the face and the strength that it
takes for her to forgive her mother and understand what she was
going through.
For the most part, however, “Black Butterfly” is
upbeat, with each girl beaming girl-power (not the Spice Girl
kind), and realizing that she should be proud of who she is. As the
girls grow up, for each year they are older they stop and shout out
various phrases that teens at such an age would say such as,
“I don’t think so,” and “Whatever!” Such
transitional moments remain light-hearted and comical no matter
what the prior scene absolves.
“Drive My Coche,” though taking place in the 70s,
focuses on the stresses of adolescence as well. Written by Roy
Conboy and directed by Diane Rodriguez, the play has an intriguing
beatnik club feel to it. The main character, Bill, played by Jesse
Borrego, is an 18-year-old Chicano facing the draft and dealing
with his first love.
The story is told in flashback fashion in which Bill
“steps out” of present day life and into the 70s. In
the present day he poetically tells his story in front of a mic,
singing, free-styling and dancing, while acting out various roles
in his memories .
Such a double-scene trade off keeps the play engaging. Bill is
multi-talented, taking on the roles of different characters in the
play, magically changing his voice from a hardheaded military
officer, to a drugged-out Veteran.
Kathy, played by Ara Celi, is the only other actor in the play
and is Bill’s first and tumultuous love who constantly plays mind
games with him. Kathy serves as a fantasy world for Bill up until
his draft status is altered to 1A. Suddenly her character’s
attitude takes a sharp turn and presents Bill with the reality of
war and life.
“Drive My Coche” combines fun with serious issues
just as “Black Butterfly” does. The game of love is
examined, as well as the stresses of the Vietnam war and its
effects on all the people involved.
The double bill provides an interesting night. The differing
stories of “Black Butterfly” and “Drive My
Coche” provide something for everyone, both to enjoy and
resonate with while at the same time, not bombarding the audience
with totally opposing themes.
THEATER: The Taper Too will be releasing various innovative and
experimental plays through July 17 at The Actors’ Gang in
Hollywood. For information or tickets call the Center Theatre Group
box office at (213) 628-2772 or check on-line at
www.TaperAhmanson.com.