Los Angeles Theatre Review: LORCAbaret

Aptly described in the program as, “A cross between play, performance art, and poetry reading,” LORCAbaret (subtitled Six Scenes and a Murder) explores the titular Spanish writer’s (Federico Garcia Lorca) political and sexual persona, examining a very specific point in his young adult life. A child of privilege, with a circle of friends including Luis Bunuel and Salvador Dalí, his family sent the poet and playwright to the US right before the Great Depression. While abroad, he also sojourned to Cuba. His assassination in his 30s during the Spanish Civil War followed shortly.  Simone Nardini wrote and directed this piece set in a club with an emcee (Alain Washnevsky) in the vein of the Kander/Ebbs icon, who is everything you might expect: crazy, aloof, mildly sadistic in tone. He runs the show with a tight whip, as he introduces his girls: a motley crew of four guys clad in only tighty-whities and bowler hats. The only linearity in these nontraditional biographic snapshots is that they're broken up into one hour’s worth of scenes, each a reimagining of one of Lorca’s pieces of work (poems and scenes from plays). One of the first images we see is of Lorca (Dario Soler) wearing nothing but a small theatrical mask over his crotch, with his head popping out of a huge book.  Things then get much more complicated.

Some emotions are telegraphed, while others deeply expressive and raw, each new scene carries with it a cryptic mythology confronting sexual relationships and imposed puritanical values. Throughout the struggle with erotic oppression are controversial imagery related to the KKK, Hitler’s salute, etc. “I wish I had my freedom,” pines a lost and confused Lorca towards the end. The tone runs from creepy to haunting to flamboyant to bittersweet. Despite the random style and symbolism of this avant-garde production, LORCA achieves a lyrical beauty generally not found in today’s theatre. Its subject matter is often difficult to wrap one’s head around, but there is a degree of simplicity which makes its profound effects strangely accessible. With a talented international cast (Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, France, Iran), you may recognize some of the actors from Promenade Players Theatre Company's recent production of Six Characters in Search of an Author (i.e. Rodrigo Brand, Edgardo Gonzales), many of whom have bodies that are just sick and will make you feel guilty for not hitting the gym.

Warning: There is nudity in this play, as it’s a frank presentation of themes of a sexual nature. If male genitalia out front and center bothers you, then you especially should see this play as to explore why that is.  LORCAbaret runs through December 14th with Friday-only performances (8 PM) in Santa Monica. You can find tickets here.