Kicking off its 25th year in Boyle Heights, the ever unapologetically authentic Angeleno theatre company, Casa 0101, premieres four wonderful one act plays all under the title, Mujeres on the Verge or
Women on the Verge.
In celebration of 'Women's HER story' month, Founding Artistic Director Josephina Lopez (author of play and Sundance award winning feature film, "Real Women Have Curves") and Executive Director Emmanuel Deleage present four new plays:
Pleito or
Rumble by Lindsey Haley; directed by Vilma Villela.
Starring Carmelita Maldonaldo, Myrna Velaso, Jasia Topete, Saul Rodriguez, Alejandro Flores, Tricia Cruz, Tina D'Marco, and Alejandro Bravo. A group of women in an assisted living facility run into a man they used to fight over in their youth, and it seems the fighting never stopped.
The Fan Club by Marianna Herrera; directed by Karla Ojeda.
Starring Gisel Murillo, Alejandro Bravo, Myrna Velaso, Carmelita Maldonaldo, Tricia Cruz and Saul Rodriguez. A woman 'discovering' her menopause is forced to face life decisions re her business, her boyfriend and her new world of hot flashes.
La Noche de Anoche or
Last Night by Maria G. Martinez; directed by Jacquline Guido. Starring Carmelita Maldonaldo, Alejandro Flores and Ariana Raygoza. The physical and emotional demands of caregiving to a family elder over living one's own life are explored here.
La Mano de Dios or
The Hand of God by Raquel Salinas; directed by Olivia Chumacero. A one woman play starring Raquel Salinas exploring a lifetime of alcoholism in local Los Angeles.
All four plays are electrically charged with humor, drama, and wonderful reality. The actors in repertoire do not hold back. Each play is a new world of commitment with the audience moving from story to story, character to character seamlessly.
RUMBLE is hands down funny. Sharp and very culturally specific (LA Latin x specific) human response and behavior open our eyes to how strong and defined by one another these characters are. The humor is tough, and the conflict is knock down hilarious. Special mention: A stunning and hilarious Merna Velasco.
THE FAN CLUB is a funny and revealing piece. I learned more about menopause than I knew before lol and laughed all the way there. Special mention: an in control, grounded and dynamic Gisel Murillo.
LA NOCHE DE ANOCHE is the deepest piece of the night. At first, comic in its tone, as we allow the play into our hearts, it breaks us with the truth of loyalty to our elders in their waning years. Special mention: Carmelita Maldonaldo, Alejandro Flores and Ariana Raygoza.
THE HAND OF GOD is a powerful solo play with its actress walking a fine line between performance and mythological offering via authentic behavior and study of alcoholism. A brilliant effort. Special mention: A masterful Raquel Salinas.
Lights and sound and design were colorfully wonderful and seamless and brilliantly focused for the purpose of showing four plays in four worlds without apology. Well done. Kudos to the direction of each play and the overall cohesion; Disarming the audience with each tale; staying in tune with the differing tones of humanity with each, while maintaining that element that Casa 0101 is famous for, that deep dive into that specifically unique and wonderfully authentic Angeleno lifestyle edge. A beautiful night of theatre.
Women on The Verge plays Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 3pm and runs thru March 23.
The show has a PG-13 recommendation for strong language and mature themes. Advance reservations are highly recommended.
For tickets, please call the CASA 0101 Theater Box Office at 323-263-7684, E-mail
tickets@casa0101.org, or buy online at
www.casa0101.org
CASA 0101, 2102 East First Street (at Louis Street) in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles 90033 (across the street from the Hollenbeck Police Station).
Parking Lot is located at 2130 East First Street (at Chicago Street) by entering the lot from Chicago Street Limited Free Parking is also available at the Boyle Heights City Hall and on streets surrounding the theatre.
