Evelina Fernandez is already an acclaimed playwright, but with The Storyteller of East LA, she is transcendent as she plumbs life, death, and the in-between as experienced in a family. On the day that I saw the play, there wasn’t an audience member who didn’t resonate with the humanity of the story unfolding onstage as the matriarch, Mercy (Lucy Rodriguez), lies in her bed, tended by her daughter, Grace (Zilzh Mendoza), and her caregiver, Josefa (Ruth Livier). An intermittent visit from Mercy’s prodigal daughter, Mary (Brenda Banda), precipitates new tensions that also play out during the performance.
You may be thinking that the story sounds like a typical family drama, but Fernandez draws on a deep well of understanding when she introduces us to Mercy’s gardian angel, Serafina (Sal Lopez), who is transcendent all on his/her/its own, along with Fernandez’ truly inclusive view of the afterlife.
The significance of this play rests in the fact that we will all experience some version of the life and death of a loved one. In this case, we find Mercy with her granddaughter, Lulu (Blanca Isabella Pallini), feeding her stories back to her in an effort to keep her mind functioning in this world. The stories of Mercy’s life are endearing, and she seems to recognize them as her granddaughter recounts each one to her. But her conversations with her guardian angel are equally revealing, even as s/he protests that s/he can’t perform miracles for her. Another meaningful segment reveals the troubles of caregiver Josefa, who has to elude “La Migra” in order to get to work.
All this unfolds on a picture-frame stage creatively designed by Prairie T. Trivuth, with projections by Yee Eun Nam, which must have posed some challenges for Josh Epstein’s lighting. It’s fun to notice how things have not changed much in costuming (designed by Naila Aladdin Saunders) which evokes the end of the last century. Sound by John Zalewski augments Sal Lopez lucious singing as guardian angel, and Urbanie Lucero’s choreography adds grace. But none of this would have been as seamless without Artistic Director Jose Luis Valenzuela’s effortless direction. All contributes to the most meaningful theatre experience you may have this year.
The Storyteller of East LA continues Thursdays, Fridays and Saturday s at 8 pm, and Sundays at 2 pm through May 17th at LATC, 514 S. Spring St., Los Angeles 90013. All tickets are $48.00, with student and Senior tickets at $24.00. For ticket sales: call (213) 489-0994 or go to latinotheaterco.org. Parking: $8 with box office validation at Los Angeles Garage Associate Parking structure, 545 S. Main St., just behind the theater (Enter from Sixth Street just past Spring).
