Mon. July 1, 2013
By Michael J. Roberts
Through Mr. Bernardo's script, the Reyes family is given an honest portrait of the struggles of being a product of two cultures. From the patriarch (and Mr. Foronda's brilliant portrayal) we get to understand what people have to give up in order for others to survive and succeed, though that choice may be difficult to understand at first glance. It is in the comedy of Mahal that we are able to better digest the selfishness of each of these characters, and by doing that, we are then able to better identify with the Reyes'. The payoff is the final scene between a father and his youngest boy, one which will leave you in tears because of the truth that comes out from the actors and the playwright.
Mahal is also helped along by Stephen H. Carmody's highly functional and pleasing set design which allows the many scene transitions to occur a seamlessly. There is still some streamlining that needs to be done with the script, especially in the second act, but as a first outing, this is certainly on of the best new works about culture and family to come along in recent memory. In the end,Mahal ends up not so much a story about cultural differences but rather the universal sameness of the love and acceptance we are each yearning for in our own journey with family. For that is what Mr. Bernardo has make palpable in this entrancing new work.
Mahal runs through August 2, 2013 at Stage 773 ,1225 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. Regular run: Monday, July 1 – Friday, August 2, 2013; Curtain Times: Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm; Sundays at 2 pm. Please note: There will not be a performance on Saturday, June 29 at 8 pm, Sunday, June 30 at 2 pm or Thursday, July 4 at 8 pm. There will be special Industry Night performances on Monday, July 1 and Monday, July 15 at 7:30 pm and an added Saturday matinee on Saturday, July 27 at 3 pm. Tickets: Previews: $25. Regular run: $35 ($30 groups of 10 or more). Tickets are available at www.stage773.com, in person at the Stage 773 Box Office or by calling (773) 327-5252. For calendar informaiton, please visit TheatreInChicago.com.
A caveat to this review. Mahal playwright Danny Bernardo is both a friend and colleague of mine, but in no way is that an influence on the review.
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