Playwright Jose Rivera once studied with author Gabriel Garcia Marquez and it shows; “Marisol” is saturated with the magical realism Marquez is famous for. Rivera’s serio-comic poetry makes terrifying celestial warfare just as believable as the cruelty New Yorkers inflicted on each other in the early nineties.
Marisol (Marta Evans) struggles in a pre-apocalyptic Bronx, New York. Her guardian angel (Leslie Ann Sheppard) informs her that a heavenly battle approaches; revolting angels plan to replace the current dying god and restore earth. As the war commences, Marisol struggles to find co-worker June (Kristin Collins), encountering bizarre obstacles on the way.
Director John Mossman makes creative use of Aaron Menninga’s graffitied set; the performances are broad but the script demands it. Evans’ wide-eyed fear and plucky bravery is affecting, while Collins and Brandon Thompson nail the comic relief. The piece wallows a bit too long in degradation, but leaves room for hope. (Lisa Buscani)
At The Artistic Home, 3914 North Clark, (866)811-4111. Through July 31.
Coming Home: How Fire Shut Up Will Liverman’s Bones “Fire Shut Up in My Bones” is a multi-genre work and the first opera in the Metropolitan Opera in New York’s history written by an African-American composer, jazz trumpeter and composer Terence Blanchard. It's scheduled to close out Lyric’s 2021-22 season.
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