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Common Bonds
February 16, 2006
By Jim Crogan
Writer Jan Alejandro's basic optimism is on display
here. In his world, when push comes to shove, families will finally
come together. But Alejandro's sanguine outlook on blood relations does
not detract from the fine writing and compelling interwoven setups,
artfully directed by Kim Glann. This fast-paced production tracks four
sets of siblings and the crisis each brother-sister team must
face--three involving big-time problems. There's a near-fatal car
accident coupled with a divorced family in trouble, dual diagnoses of
MS, and a bigamist and crook uncovered. The fourth crisis involves a
brother, heading off to college, who must deal with his fear of leaving
home and his misplaced guilt over abandoning his hearing-impaired
sister.
The action, except for one brief voiceover scene in
San Diego, occurs in San Francisco. And the use of set designer Paul
DeDoes modular backdrops, Jim Bandy's intricate lighting design, and
finely tuned sound effects and use of voiceover by Nathaniel Kunkel,
John Hurst, and William Maynard combine to capture the feel of the Bay
City and the action inside this play. But it's the eight actors playing
siblings who shine here. Their onstage chemistry captures that love,
anger, biting humor, support, and disappointment that are part and
parcel of being brother and sister. Trish Ng (Vickie) and Leonard Wu
(Wayne) are particularly good as two Chinese-Americans struggling to
help their disabled mother, while dealing with their conflicting
feelings toward each other and toward a father who left his family
behind. Elizabeth Ann Harris is first-rate as the hearing-impaired
sister. And Nic Garcia as her onstage sibling facilely handles his
signing duties and captures the angst of an overprotective brother who
discovers his little sister is braver than he is.
Presented by and at the Secret Rose Theatre, 11246 Magnolia Blvd.,
North Hollywood. Fri.-Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m. Feb. 11-Mar. 12. (818)
766-3691.
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