Desires erode. Whether or not difficult the American Dream of stability, the Californian imaginative and prescient of expanse or the glittery illusions of L.A., Roger Q. Mason’s “Califas Trilogy” dives into the meltdown of fable and the potential of restore amongst ruins.
“L.A. is the type of city that builds one generation of progress on top of the other, forgetting about the last generation while reaching for the next,” observes Mason, whose trio of latest performs bear the Chicano nickname for the state. “It’s a place of grasping. And anytime you reach, as you climb, you always leave something behind.”
Typically what’s left behind are the dredges of historical past and time, which Mason resurrects onstage. “California Story,” directed by longtime collaborator Michael Alvarez, kicks off the trilogy by vacillating between the mid-1800s, the current and the 12 months 2051, exploring the world of Pío Pico (Peter Mendoza). The final Mexican governor of the state, he reckons with land-grabbers within the last period of Mexican governance earlier than the US annexes the territory.
“I wanted to write a piece about the cost of ambition, and I happened upon the story of Pico,” says Mason, musing over the historic determine’s life in a area present process fleeting political eras between Spain, Mexico and the States. “His grasp for power, meaning, acceptance, stability and affirmation are very much California’s story. It’s why everyone moved to California.”
“California Story,” the primary play within the trilogy facilities on Pío Pico, the final Mexican governor of the state, and the price of ambition.
(Michael Rowe / For The Occasions)
The second a part of the trilogy, and the longest-running of the three performances, “Hide and Hide” zooms ahead to 1980 into a rough and degrading Metropolis of Angels. Directed by Jessica Hanna, one other longtime collaborator, the title is a translation of the Tagalog “TNT” (tago ng tago), a time period amongst Filipino expatriates for fellow migrants with out their paperwork or with expired visas. On this neo-noir two-hander, Constanza, a Filipina immigrant, and Billy, a queer Texan youth, discover themselves thrown collectively as they try and dodge regulation enforcement — each immigration officers and felony investigators — and free themselves of sins from their homelands.
Their sins are ugly — and in addition defensible, dedicated out of a must survive. In step with the playwright’s different works, Mason expresses taboos by way of shimmering poetry and inventive multipart casting that provides actors an opportunity to showcase their flexibility and vary. The villainous Ricky, a predatory Filipino immigrant who has risen to the standing of American lawyer and green-card marriage matchmaker, is voiced by way of Constanza (Amielynn Abellera) and Billy (Ben Larson), in addition to audio recordings. The impact is not only haunting. It’s as if system corruption is infecting victims, akin to demonic possession.
“Ricky becomes a part of them,” notes the dramatist, who purposefully creates roles that showcase the athleticism of performing. The victims “embody that surreptitious, sometimes unscrupulous navigation of America, its legal system and avenues for slick navigation of the law. He is the embodiment of the Western model minority but also a disillusioned rebel against it.” It’s an inventive alternative that additionally blurs boundaries between oppressed and oppressors, revealing the complicity of the American Dream.
“At the core of this piece is a cautionary tale about what it means to submit wholeheartedly to anybody’s dream, including your own,” Mason explains. “Constanza is so determined to become an American citizen that she sacrifices many things, including her principles, in order to attain that dream.”
Roger Q. Mason stands behind Michael Alvarez, director of two performs of their “Califas Trilogy.”
(Michael Rowe / For The Occasions)
The finale of this Golden State triptych is available in a limited-run presentation of “Juana Maria,” probably the most just lately written play of the three. Additionally directed by Alvarez, it portrays the ultimate months of an Indigenous lady delivered to the Santa Barbara Mission from the distant island of San Nicolas by an American sailor. Mason consulted Chumash and Tongva artists and performed fieldwork within the Channel Islands, Santa Barbara, and museums throughout L.A. and Ojai whereas writing and researching the play. With these strategies and engagement, Mason says, “I think of ‘Juana Maria’ less as a showcase and more a community sharing. This is what we’ve come up with thus far, here’s what we’ve learned and what we’re committed to.”
Whereas “Califas” has been a long time within the making, it arrives at a precipitous second for Los Angeles. Recognizing the devastation of the wildfires and up to date federal budgetary cuts to the humanities, Mason nonetheless expresses braveness, gratitude and a name to motion. Social and nationwide desires could crumble, however they aren’t the only desires and realities.
“If you can imagine a future here, in the theater,” assures Mason, “then you have the proof you need to manifest the future in the world.”
Roger Q. Mason’s ‘Califas Trilogy’
