Frida Stroke of Passion 

Reviewed by Julio Martinez
Macha Theatre
Through October 1

The tantalizing history of legendary artist/political activist Frida Kahlo is extensively examined in Frida Stroke of Passion, written by Odalys Nanin, who also stars and co-directs with Nancy De los Santos. Set in Frida’s bedroom during the final pain-wracked days of her life, the play attempts to tell too much of her story. The end result is an over abundance of historical exposition, with little dramatic substance.      

Hampered through most of her life by a youthful bout with polio and a horrific bus accident at age18 that fractured her body, Frida is now confined to her bedroom with an amputated foot. She moves about with the assistance of a wheelchair and her ever-present nurse Judith (Tricia Cruz), who dispenses recurring shots of demurral while Frida self-medicates with tequila and brandy.

The action is focused on Frida as she strives to finish her latest self-portrait, while confronting her often-absent husband Diego Rivera (Campbell De Silva) and Cuban spy Teresa Proenza (Marilyn Sanabria). Meanwhile, she loses herself in dreamlike reveries, reliving relationships with lovers such as photographer Tina Modotti (also Sanabria), Josephine Baker (Ebony Perry), singer Chavela Vargas (Marisa Lopez), and actress Maria Feliz (also Lopez), Leon Trotsky (Paul Cascante), as well as the surrealistic Judas (Daniel Lavids). The direction of Nanin and de los Santos never smoothly integrates these many tangential fragments of her life, leaving a stilted dramatic throughline in its wake.

Nanin strives to evoke the provocatively zesty nature of a woman who became an early 20^th century icon. Frida rose in stature as a Mexican folk artist, eventually rivaling the international popularity of her despotic husband. She was an early champion of feminism and a devout communist. Nanin is at her best as Frida as she strives to receive the attention and adoration she so craves from Diego. Unfortunately, De Silva’s Diego seams a beat late in his responses, as if conjuring up lines he has recently memorized. Cruz’s Nurse Betty also comes across as oddly robotic.  

Mailyn Sonobria is effectively present as the harried Cuban spy Teresa Proenza, and Joseph Bixler is endearing as Frida’s imagined son, Little Diego. Singer Maria Lopez and guitarist Francisco Medina offer welcome ballads throughout the production. The projections provided by Carey Dunn underscore the historical bent of the drama.      

Macha Theatre, 1107 N. King’s Road, West Hollywood; Performances Fri. & Sat 8pm, and Sun. 6pm. Through Oct 1. www.machatheatre.org. Running time: 90 minutes, one intermission.