More on all of that frivolity a bit later, but let\u2019s get to the actual review first.<\/p>\n
![\"Evelina](\"https:\/\/itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Whittier-Boulevard_4817.jpg\")
<\/a>Evelina Fern\u00e1ndez and Sal L\u00f3pez. Photo by Grettel Cortes, as is the one at the top of this review.<\/p><\/div>\n
The clever script was written by the quintet of founding members of the company\u2014actors Evelina Fern\u00e1ndez,\u00a0Sal L\u00f3pez,\u00a0Geoffrey Rivas,\u00a0and Lucy Rodriguez along with director, Jose Luis Valenzuela–which I found interesting. When I read the cast’s bios in the program before the show, the first one I noticed said, \u201cPlaywright,\u201d in the same space as her character’s name, so I assumed the actress was playing a playwright in the show. And then I noticed that same designation for the other three actors, as well! By reading further, I finally realized that they all wrote it together. What an undertaking! I wish I<\/em> had four other pals I could work with so well!<\/p>\n Speaking of the charming director, Jose Luis Valenzuela, he spoke at the beginning, letting us know that Whittier Boulevard<\/em> is a \u201ccautionary tale,\u201d which he is totally correct about.<\/p>\n The overriding message of this play set in 2042 is about how society discards their seniors, which I think about myself sometimes when I’m reaching-out to my \u201cgrown-up\u201d pals. I hate being made to think about aging ever<\/em>, but Whittier Boulevard<\/em> presents the topic with so much mirth that\u00a0it’s easy to watch, and just let the lesson seep into our brains.<\/p>\n I know there are some other subtle admonitions about the state of the world, and Los Angeles, in particular, in the play, but I wasn\u2019t into all that\u2014there are too many current problems in real life to worry about. I just took it as the comedy I saw in front of me. But I appreciate that the production provides some words to the wise without being preachy about them.<\/p>\n (L-R) Lucy Rodriguez, Evelina Fern\u00e1ndez, and Geoffrey Rivas. Photo by Grettel Cortes.<\/p><\/div>\n The whole time, I was thinking that the aging actress character, played by Evelina Fern\u00e1ndez, looks like Dorothy Lamour in her later years, but reminded me more of Gloria Swanson\u2019s Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard<\/em>. And then it dawned on me that that famous film is most likely what inspired this new play to begin with! I have to be honest and admit that I didn\u2019t put that together for a while. But I’m happy to report that it turns-out that I totally got what they\u2019re going for. (I can say no more on the subject.)<\/p>\n I panicked at first when the play opened with three actors draped in white gowns with ornate beadwork on the front, standing in separate spotlights, dramatically uttering profound sentences which are simultaneously appearing in script on the walls. I immediately thought, \u201cOh no\u2014not another self-indulgent presentation in LA!\u201d\u00a0 But my concern was soon lifted by the lights coming up to a set featuring a big-but-sparse classy living room, and then characters in normal attire showing up. And the fun began!<\/p>\n The opening of the play. (L-R) Geoffrey Rivas, Sal L\u00f3pez, and Lucy Rodriguez. The show is very amusing, and thought-provoking, as mentioned above. And all four actors are excellent. There are a few wonderful effects in the show from time to time, mainly images of falling snow and flower petals.\u00a0 I loved those!<\/p>\n And great use is made of the very wide stage\u2014the \u201cblocking\u201d (i.e. the movement of the actors,) is interesting at all times and very\u00a0well done.<\/p>\n On a side note, on opening night, there was an ASL signer off to the side of the front of the stage. She was positioned in the perfect place to be seen well enough while also being out of the way. And she used a quick flashlight movement to show the people who needed her where she was when everyone was seated, which was so smart. I really appreciated that whole situation. And I enjoyed watching a bit of beautiful signing, as well.<\/p>\n On another language tip, it might help to know a bit of Spanish for a word here or there, but it\u2019s far from a requirement to enjoy Whittier Boulevard. I laughed the entire time, even at expressions that I didn’t quite understand.<\/p>\n (L-R) Evelina Fern\u00e1ndez, Geoffrey Rivas, Lucy Rodriguez, and Sal L\u00f3pez. All that being said, I have to be honest and tell you that, along with all those laughs, there were three annoyances for my friend Laura and me throughout. When we compared notes post-show, we discovered that we both had the same trio of minor gripes.<\/p>\n The first of those is that even though the show is listed as a mere eighty minutes, (which is perf for today\u2019s very short attention spans,) it feels much longer. About ten minutes could easily be cut.<\/p>\n Secondly, there\u2019s a very confusing horizontal rectangle cut-out in the back wall of the set. It\u2019s really distracting to wonder why it\u2019s there the entire time; I waited in vain for its purpose to be revealed.<\/p>\n But the worst problem for us is that there’s one-note impending-doom music playing for almost the entire time! It’s torturous.<\/p>\n However, I adored the\u00a0surrounding<\/em>\u00a0music at the entire event, especially all the pre-show \u201950s tunes, even though I still<\/em> can\u2019t figure-out what that era\u2019s music has to do with a show set in 2042, (except that one character sings a couple of lines from one of them down the line.) And the hip tunes played at the post-reception\u00a0were really fun, and at the perfect volume for a soiree.<\/p>\n (L-R) Sal L\u00f3pez, Evelina Fern\u00e1ndez, Geoffrey Rivas, and Lucy Rodriguez. Someone said something curious to me after the show that boggled my mind. She thought the entire time that the characters were talking about the Whittier Boulevard in\u2026Beverly Hills!!! So when the topic of \u201ccruising\u201d on that street came up a couple of times, she was really confused because she couldn\u2019t picture that anyone had ever cruised that inconspicuous BH street! She didn\u2019t see what the story had to do with it. [Note: The play featured some enlightening projections of the famous East LA boulevard, along with some other interesting images along the way, but that darn wall cut-out obscured them quite a bit.]<\/p>\n So, even though this play is definitely not just for the Latino community, if you\u2019re not a part of it, you might want to look up the history of the\u00a0famous<\/em>\u00a0Whittier Boulevard in East LA before you go. It’s good to be familiar with that area, even though it doesn\u2019t really matter much to the scenario. (And you might also need to look-up \u201ccruising\u201d\u2014in this case, they’re referring to the activity of young people just driving up and down popular streets to socialize and see what’s happening,\u00a0not<\/em>\u00a0the homosexual activity of looking for sex with strangers in places like parks. Oysh\u2014so much for audiences to learn for such a short story!)<\/p>\n Now to the festivities we enjoyed on opening night. I loved that the whole evening was made extra-special by throwing not just one<\/em> but two<\/em> receptions! Pre-show, we were treated to creative cheese and charcuterie platters that also featured crackers, little breads, fruit, jams, honey, and…chocolate chips! I’ve never seen those<\/em> in the mix before. And we were offered glasses of prosecco as we waited in line to pick-up our tickets. It was all so classy. And cheery.<\/p>\n Part of the LATC lobby, pre-show. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n And post-show, the theater’s staff, including the guards, were happy to let us know, \u201cWe have tacos for you outside.\u201d I assumed they meant \u201cin the lobby,\u201d but when we got up there, and it was empty, I then figured that they were going to hand us each a packaged taco as we went on our way. But instead, we followed the trail out to the building’s front patio, and there was…an entire taco situation\u2014nice men grilling them up fresh for us, with all the garnishes and condiments, and even three kinds of refreshing drinks, (served by the sweetest teen-ager,) including Laura and my favorite\u2014horchata! It was all such an upbeat situation, with everyone discussing the play and the food, that not one person was upset to be on a line to get the refreshments!<\/p>\n We ate back in the spacious lobby, and the night ended with a celebratory cake and cupcakes, all featuring the Whittier Boulevard<\/em> logo.<\/p>\n The celebration cake. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n There was even a sighting of movie star Bill Pullman, rocking long hair now, which made me not recognize him at first. He looked to be having a really good time, with his party mingling with that of Whittier Boulevard<\/em>‘s Sal Lopez. (I loved seeing such trim and fit men in the biz, by the way. I had thought that Mr. X was the only one still looking like that!)<\/p>\n Even though you<\/em> won’t have all that auxiliary<\/em> fun at LATC, you will still really enjoy Whittier Boulevard<\/em>. And most of that area of downtown LA is really happening now. Right down the block on Spring Street are lots of hip eateries, and most interestingly, the famous and fabulous The Last Bookstore. So whether you attend a matinee or nighttime performance of the show, be sure to make it a full experience for yourselves.<\/p>\n Now I do<\/em> have one tiny caution for my fellow bad-knee sufferers. Luckily, there’s an elevator down to the biggest theatre in the LATC complex, where this play runs. But then there are many very steep steps down to most of the seats. So I suggest you choose to sit in the very top row if stairs are hard for you. Since it’s all stadium seating, I have a feeling you’ll enjoy the show just as well from up there.<\/p>\n And the absolutely lovely LATC staff will be happy to help. No other theatre any place in this country can possibly have as accommodating personnel as this one!<\/p>\n Whittier Boulevard\u00a0<\/em>running through May 28, 2023<\/strong> WHITTIER BOULEVARD What a fun time my friend Laura and I had at LATC last week-end! The occasion was the opening of the new play Whittier Boulevard by the Latino Theater Company. And let me tell you, they really know how to throw an event. The excellent comedy was surrounded by a duo of receptions.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a>
Photo by Grettel Cortes.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/a>
Photo by Grettel Cortes.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/a>
Photo by Grettel Cortes.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/a><\/a>
\n LATC\u00a0\u00a0514 S. Spring Street<\/strong>
\n www.latinotheaterco.org<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"