Reviewed by Tony Annicone
Marisol – Written by Jose Rivera; Director Brian Mertes; Ashley Frith; Composer/Musical Director; Kei Soares Cobb, Composer; Orlando Pabotoy, Choreographer; Eugene Lee, Set Design; Cait O’Connor, Costume Design; Cha See, Lighting Design. Presented by Trinity Repertory Company at 201 Washington St, Providence, RI through June 16
Welcome to a very bleak and grim future in New York where things start going out of control and madness seems to have taken the reins. This is the gist of Marisol by Jose Rivera. It examines human relationships set in the chaos of a major upheaval, and is the closing play of Trinity Repertory Company’s 55th season. It centers on Marisol, a copy editor who becomes involved with the disintegration of New York City as it is being turned into a wasteland. It opens with the cast members singing “My Country Tis of Thee.” The show also takes a look at theology, paranoia, fear and sex as well as showing the dissolution of contemporary society and the battle of good versus evil. It shows how wayward angels try to take over society after they feel that God can no longer do so. They want to encourage people sometimes forcibly to help them achieve their goals. Will the angels convince the humans to help them achieve hope for the future or is everything just doom and gloom?
Rivera’s play, which won him an Obie Award in 1993, is of the absurdist variety and can also be seen as a part of magical realism that occurred in a light hearted manner in “Almost, Maine” but is definitely not treated in a light hearted manner in this show even though there are funny moments. What was absurdist back in 1992 and 93 is frightening real in today’s society with the school shootings and bad behavior and treatment of others. Director Brian Mertes casts topnotch performers in these roles and wrings the pathos out of the script. However the character of Marisol utters a yearning for hope amid the ruins of the city at the end of the show. Let us hope this tale ripped out of the headlines is able to straighten itself out in the near future.
Mertes is aided in his task by Eugene Lee, the Tony Award winning set designer whose bleak and barren set lends itself perfectly for this cautionary tale. Leading the cast and commanding the stage is Octavia Chavez-Richmond as Marisol. She is a sympathetic character caught in the middle of the chaos becoming lost, homeless and hungry. After being attacked by a golf club wielding nut and then abandoned by her guardian angel, she must struggle to survive in an increasingly hostile environment and meets many strange and combative people on her journey. Richmond runs the gamut of emotions in this role, delivering a multilayered performance with the humor and strength the role calls for. Marisol starts out as an office worker who is scared and slowly becomes embroiled in the fighting for survival when abandoned by her angel. She becomes stronger as the show progresses. Richmond is supported by many of Trinity Rep company members playing multiple roles.
Playing Marisol’s friend and co-worker June is Angela Brazil, who delivers a strong performance as her supportive friend. She wins many laughs but also delivers the goods in the dramatic moments where she becomes a thuglike Nazi pouring gasoline and dirt on homeless man. June’s crazy and obsessed brother, Lenny is fabulously played by Charlie Thurston. His character turns on a dime to intimidate Marisol but also garners laughs while becoming pregnant in the second act. This is a gut wrenching scene with a beautiful funeral dirge sung during it. The leader of the angels is played by Mia Ellis who encourages Marisol to join in the fight or be left to her own devices.
Joe Wilson Jr. delivers a comic turn as an actor from “Taxi Driver” who is still waiting to be paid and shoves a vanilla ice cream cone in Marisol’s face while Brian McEleney plays a terribly scarred man, Mauro Hantman plays the golf wielding nutcase and Jackie Davis plays a wealthy woman who threatens to turn Marisol in to the cops. So for a look at what we have to look forward to if things don’t change. The can be seen in Rivera’s play as a cautionary warning but hopefully doesn’t come true although some of the violent acts written over 27 years ago are taking place nowadays. It definitely displays man’s inhumanity to man and their descent into madness. Be sure to catch “Marisol” to witness some strong direction and performances by Trinity Repertory Company’s closing show of their 55th season. For tickets and info, go to: www.trinityrep.com
