Gods and Monsters

Roots in the Alley – Adventure Stage

 

Sent by their mother to the chaotic city of Chicago, from their home in laid-back San Francisco, twin sisters Blanca and Honey De La Quiche find they’ll be spending the summer with their paternal grandmother. The girls discover upon meeting her that Ma Rosa, much to their disappointment, isn’t the kind, nurturing grandma they’d envisioned. She’s a brusque older woman, very much set in her ways and who primarily speaks Spanish. The two girls are given specific instructions not to open the door off the kitchen and to make themselves comfortable sleeping on the fire escape. The rest is up the girls.

When the sisters begin exploring their Windy City neighborhood they meet two of the local kids, Nessa and Noah. Nessa is at first suspicious and confrontational, while Noah, who’s an electronics geek, is far more friendly, gentle and accepting. With the help of their two new friends, Blanca and Honey accidentally fall headlong into the netherworld of their Guatemalan heritage. While their discovery offers the girls experiences in the real world of Chicago, most of their adventures occur in the wild and terrifying fantasy universe of Guatemalan mythology. Gods and monsters roam throughout a frightening and challenging landscape that includes, among other locales, the River of Blood. 

In order to rescue her captured twin sister, Blanca has to win a soccer-like competition against the Xibalban Lord and other evil Mayan gods. The experience opens up a whole new world to the teenagers, exposing them to the mysterious Guatemalan culture that comprises their family roots. It also connects Blanca and Honey with the father they never knew, missing for years after he disappeared in the Central American jungle.

Over the past 12 months, Adventure Stage Playwright-in-Residence, Chicagoan Carlos Murillo, worked closely with Guatemalan playwright, Lucas Baisch, along with local students, youth and community groups at the Northwestern Settlement. Together they integrated all their personal stories and experiences into a new play for young audiences. This exciting drama, sprinkled generously with humor, features two young heroines who, employing social media, the internet and other electronic help, solve a mystery and discover their family background.

Under the caring and creative direction of Julie Ritchey, this story unfolds in two different worlds. The adaptable physical landscape is the work of scenic designer Eleanor Kahn, beautifully enhanced by Liviu Pasare’s outstanding projections, Claire Chrzan’s ethereal lighting and Jeffrey Levin’s dynamic soundtrack. The always reliable Mieka van der Ploeg has designed a wardrobe of exciting, sparkly costumes, many inspired by Mayan mythology, that add authenticity to this play.

Ms. Ritchey’s cast is terrific. Rinska Carrasco and Juanita Anderson are both funny and fearless as sisters Blanca and Honey. Ms. Anderson, in particular, provides much of the humor in this drama, while Ms. Carrasco is the more athletic, superhero of the story. Particularly excellent are newcomer Arie Thompson, as nerdy Noah and a strange, unnamed lanky Mayan monster with wings; and Aissa Guerra, who doubles as the initially, less-than-hospitable Nessa, has a field day playing an antagonistic Guatemalan god called the Evil Brother. Jazmin Corona, who’s stage work has been enjoyed on stages all over Chicagoland, is feisty and controlling as Ma Rosa, while also playing the shrill, belligerent Xibalban Lord. As The Archaeologist, Rodrigo Arreola is likable and kindly, a character who struggles with his personal regrets for the choices he made.

Adventure Stage’s latest production continues their admirable mission to develop and present original works of art aimed specifically at adolescent audiences. Once again, under the inspirational artistic directorship of Tom Arvetis, this wonderfully creative company has collaboratively written and presented another dramatic story about heroic young people who, through a series of eye-popping adventures, learn the secrets of their own heritage. This is another exhilarating dramatic experience by one of Chicago’s topnotch theatre companies that should not be missed.

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas   

     

Presented April 7-May 5 by Adventure Stage at the Vittum Theatre in the Northwestern Settlement House, 1012 N. Noble at N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago.

Tickets are available at the box office on show days, by calling 773-342-4141 or by going to www.adventurestage.org.

 

Additional information about this and other area productions can be found by visiting www.theatreinchicago.com.