Bingo Hall 

Reviewed by Terry Morgan 
Native Voices at the Autry 
Through March 25  

RECOMMENDED 

One of the nice things about being a theatregoer in Los Angeles is the diversity of theatre one is able to enjoy. On any given weekend, there are shows up at East West Players (which specializes in Asian American work), Ebony Repertory Theatre (which explores the African-American experience) or at the Latino Theater Company. A significant addition to this list is Native Voices at the Autry, the only Equity theatre company devoted exclusively to producing the work of Native American playwrights. Its current production, Dillon Chitto’s Bingo Hall, is a delight, a deft and witty comedy that recalls vintage Neil Simon.

Edward (Kholan Studi), a high school senior, lives in a Pueblo community in New Mexico. He’s not sure if he wants to go to college in Chicago or stay closer to home, but in the meantime he helps out as the number caller in the town bingo game. His father Joe (Duane Minard) is trying to get reelected to a local political office, but Edward is more interested in his friend Dakota (Michaela Escarcega), on whom he has a crush. When Dakota expresses a romantic preference for Edward’s best friend Raleigh (Kenny Ramos), however, things get complicated.

As Edward, Studi displays an easygoing charisma, delivering frequent asides to the audience with comedic skill. Escarcega is convincing as the smart and dedicated Dakota, uncomfortable at being the center of conflict between two old friends. Ramos brings a lot of energy to the role of Raleigh, and Minard offers fine support as a low-key father but stressed politico Joe. LaVonne Rae Andrews is memorably good as tart tribal elder Mrs. Zuni, and Rainy Fields is amusing as Edward’s loving mother Donna. Finally, Allison Hudson Hicks and Jennifer Bobiwash are both funny as friends of the family Teresa and Beverly, respectively.

Director Jon Lawrence Rivera’s pacing is fleet and his scene transitions are particularly tight, but the use of loud rock music between scenes seems somewhat random. Thomas Gabriel Ontiveros’ projection design is marvelous; it switches between modern scenes and mystical ones with ease and makes the best use of the theater’s unusual architecture I’ve seen yet.

Playwright Dillon Chitto has a real flair for comedy, and one of his set pieces, in which a dignified funeral eulogy is continually disrupted by a screaming fight backstage, is genuinely hilarious. His combination of the main plot and a Native American creation story is compelling but never really coheres, unfortunately.

Bingo Hall will certainly be of interest to audiences wanting to learn more about contemporary Native American life, — but more than that, it will appeal to anyone wanting to see a great new comedy.

Wells Fargo Theater at the Autry Museum of the American West, 4700 Western Heritage Way, Los Angeles; Thurs.- Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m.; through Mar. 25. www.TheAutry.org/NativeVoices. Running time: approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes with one intermission.