Melancholia is the story of marine Mario's return from the Gulf War and his spiralling dysfunctionality. Mario is fractured. He can't sleep as his mind relives the terror and horror of Iraq. Even the bottle doesn't help, as he drifts deeper in the black bile of post-traumatic stress.

Family and friends offer support and succour for Mario (played by three actors - Germaine De Leon, Sam Golzari, Ramiro Segovia), but it makes no difference. His sister Christine (Esperanza America Ibarra) tries to be normal, and asks him about what really happened. He attacks her. Mother Lydia (Monica Sanchez) knows there is something profoundly wrong with her son. Father Frank (Geoffrey Rivas) is simply pleased to have his son back home, and thinks that everything will sort itself out. Even girlfriend Alexis (Tonantzin Esparza) doesn’t know what to do.

Mario's only solace is from his imaginary friends - clown-faced Skittles (Carmen Corral) and Tar (Fidel Gomez). They can't stop the inevitable. Which is worse, being killed in action like his friend Ruben (Hugo Medina), or dying a slow death of depression as he struggles to accept survival?

The play combines modern dialogue with Shakespearean quotes. The politics of the war are conveyed through imagery rather than propaganda. Melancholia is a heartfelt conception, and the story portrayed under the deft direction of Jose Luis Valenzuela is touching and emotional, without suffocating. There is humour from Skittles and Tar. Skittles reprimands Tar nicely with 'Don’t use the F-word; Shakespeare didn't use it'.

The strong cast give exhausting performances. The production is complex and surreal, leading to some confusion between reality and fantasy, the past and the present. But what draws all these qualities together is the believability of the characters. There must be many families living with these truths.

Cast Credits: (alpha order): Carmen Corral – Skittles. Germaine De Leon – Mario. Tonantzin Esparza – Alexis. Sam Golzari – Mario/Primo/Sargeant. Fidel Gomez – Tar. Esperanza America Ibarra – Christine. Hugo Medina – Ruben/Chuy/Primo/Doctor. Geoffrey Rivas – Frank. Monica Sanchez – Lydia. Ramiro Segovia - Mario.

Company Credits: Developer & Writer - Latino Theater Company Laboratory. Director - Jose Luis Valenzuela. Choreographer - Tamara Pullman. Costumes - Hilary Parkin. Lighting Design - Francoise-Pierre Couture. Sound & Music Design - John Zalewski. Stage Manager - Heno Fernandez. Assistant Director - Aaron Garcia. Producer – not credited. Company - Latino Theater Company. www.latinotheater.com

END

(c) Lea Harris 2007

reviewed Tuesday 14 August 07 / Augustine's

Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2008