Borracho: Spanish for Drunken Bum
Reviewed by Nikki Munoz
The Actors Company
Through February 9
A party can be a prime setting for high drama to play out, as is the case in Borracho: Spanish for Drunken Bum. Written by Abe Zapata Jr. and directed by Maia Vik Villa, the play portrays the chaos that can arise from tangled secrets and conflicting motivations. Unfortunately, The Actors’ Company’s production falls short in tech and direction, notwithstanding the plentiful comedy throughout.
At the top, we meet Miguel (Oscar Emmanuel Fabela), who is throwing a birthday party for his friend, Gerardo (Edwin Alexis Gómez). The other guests include mutual friends, a hired escort, and Miguel’s high school crush, Alan (Daniel Luna). Alan, arriving in drag — and going by his drag queen persona, Hu-nani — is just one of the many unexpected turns that the night takes. It becomes apparent that this group, all queer and mostly Latinx, has many secrets and tensions.
As an ensemble, the cast presents a palpable energy as a believable group of friends. This group dynamic acts as the foundation for many of the comedic moments in a production in which humor is easily the strongest element.
Unfortunately, many of the actors are less credible as individual characters. Instead, they often speak their lines emphatically, giving the impression that they are uncomfortable with the script and their characters. In part, this is due to roles which are not as fleshed out as they need to be, with the exceptions of Miguel and Hu-nani.
The actors’ misalignment is only heightened by Villa’s frequently awkward stage blocking. The movements are clunky, with the nine-actor ensemble crowded onto a small stage that is meant to represent an apartment with multiple rooms. Attempts to distinguish these rooms from each other are unsuccessful and awkward. The impression is less of a chaotic party environment and more the inability of the director to situate so many bodies on one stage smoothly.
The overall discord is not helped by a lighting design (Susan Morgan) that comes across as arbitrary. The transitions seem to come too soon, lighting up sections of the stage that the dialogue and action haven’t caught up to yet. Moreover, some of the lighting changeovers are too blatant, so noticeable as to distract from the dialogue itself.
All in all, Borracho: Spanish for Drunken Bum leaves much to be desired. The characters’ humor may save their friendships, but unfortunately, it does not save the production.
Let Live Theatre @ The Actors Company, 916A N. Formosa Ave., West Hollywood; Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., Feb. 9, 6 p.m.; through Feb. 9. www.eventbrite.com/borracho-spanish-for-drunken-bum. Running time: 80 minutes with no intermission.
