"Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner" - Clever and Complex
Luis Alfaro's "Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner," continuing at Hartford Stage through April 1, (happily) nags at theatergoers. The play is about disorder whether that focuses upon food or sex. It's about being fat, about being lonely.
Actress Elisa Bocanegra inhabits the incredulously large Minerva, the sister who (no matter what she tries) is ever-expansive. Her husband Al (Felix Solis) is reasonable, empathetic, encouraging, and faithful. But, he is unable to say "I Love You."
Yetta Gottesman plays Alice, the other sister - who craves sex, wishes for affection, and remains as unfulfilled as Minerva. She and Officer Fred Martinez (James Martinez) go at one another beneath the covers. They might be a couple but cannot commit. This cop seems, for much of the time, to be emotionally vacant.
The talented Lisa Peterson directs the production and her presence is key. This play begs for and receives specific instructions which will help make it fly.
Do not be put off, as I was, by the first few moments of the play. There's a temptation to categorize. Minerva is immense and she begins eating - anything. Well, that doesn't seem all that promising....It takes some time before Alvaro's scripting takes hold.
The second portion of the play is about conflict. The dramatic questions, posed much earlier, ask whether any of these people, individually, or as couples, will find meaning, value, joy, reason for existence.
Yet, "Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner" is anything but heavy-handed. It's funny and spirited while reaching for profound responses to difficult circumstances.
This is a play which includes numerous vignettes. Peterson does her best to fluidly bridge gaps from one scene to the next. It is often but not always pleasant to watch minimalist furnishings move on and off stage.
Rachel Hauck's set, at the outset, is spare to the extreme: see one old, white refrigerator.
The cadence of the play approximates that of this commentary: the sketches and the paragraphs are brief......
"Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner" is well: acted, directed, and realized. Sets one to thinking.
www.hartfordstage.org; (860) 525-5601
Actress Elisa Bocanegra inhabits the incredulously large Minerva, the sister who (no matter what she tries) is ever-expansive. Her husband Al (Felix Solis) is reasonable, empathetic, encouraging, and faithful. But, he is unable to say "I Love You."
Yetta Gottesman plays Alice, the other sister - who craves sex, wishes for affection, and remains as unfulfilled as Minerva. She and Officer Fred Martinez (James Martinez) go at one another beneath the covers. They might be a couple but cannot commit. This cop seems, for much of the time, to be emotionally vacant.
The talented Lisa Peterson directs the production and her presence is key. This play begs for and receives specific instructions which will help make it fly.
Do not be put off, as I was, by the first few moments of the play. There's a temptation to categorize. Minerva is immense and she begins eating - anything. Well, that doesn't seem all that promising....It takes some time before Alvaro's scripting takes hold.
The second portion of the play is about conflict. The dramatic questions, posed much earlier, ask whether any of these people, individually, or as couples, will find meaning, value, joy, reason for existence.
Yet, "Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner" is anything but heavy-handed. It's funny and spirited while reaching for profound responses to difficult circumstances.
This is a play which includes numerous vignettes. Peterson does her best to fluidly bridge gaps from one scene to the next. It is often but not always pleasant to watch minimalist furnishings move on and off stage.
Rachel Hauck's set, at the outset, is spare to the extreme: see one old, white refrigerator.
The cadence of the play approximates that of this commentary: the sketches and the paragraphs are brief......
"Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner" is well: acted, directed, and realized. Sets one to thinking.
www.hartfordstage.org; (860) 525-5601
posted by Fred Sokol at 6:40 AM
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