Romance rekindles in Gilead and Boleros ring out for the Disenchanted around the world!

This week’s reviews, I am happy to report, will provide an opportunity to partake of two outstanding and heartwarming productions, one in Walnut Creek and one in San Francisco.

Join me on a little bus trip to Gilead, Wisconsin, enjoy fall's colorful canopy along the Copper Creek and tarry a little while at the The Spitfire Grill.

“The Spitfire Grill” is a story about people and personalities, a personal tragedy that brought an old Wisconsin town a new face, new life, new hope and within a short time, forgiveness and rejuvenation. The Contra Costa Christian Theatre strives to produce plays and musicals with a good moral message. Director Kimberly James has struck gold with an excellent production, bringing a great story, a superb cast, outstanding voices, and great musical accompaniment that take a real gem of a story and polishes it into a resplendent jewel.

If you feel a need for a little respite from the chaotic news that pounds our brains every day, time for a lift and a reason to put on a happy face, then before I even get into the story, I’m here to tell you that this is a terrific opportunity for you to take in a show "that will make your heart glow!

The Spitfire Grill began life as a 1996 Lee David Zlotoff movie by the same name. The movie was re-created as a musical by James Valcq and the late Fred Alley and has adapted to the stage even better and more intensely meaningful than it came off as a movie. The Contra Costa Christian Theatre is currently producing this show for a very short run in the Dean Lesher Regional Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek, in the very intimate Knights Stage III Theatre.

When the story opens, Percy Talbott (Laurie Kinsella) is about to be released on parole following a 5 year prison term. Having grown up in the grey squalor and black and white strife of life in coal mining towns, abused and put through terrific pain by an abusive stepfather and an ineffective mother, Percy has longed for a new life, a new start, in a totally new environment. While in prison, she secretly tore a page from a travel magazine that illustrated pictorially the exquisitely quiet pastoral beauty and rich fall colors near the little town of Gilead, Wisconsin. In the next scene, Percy, now an ex-convict, travels north by bus to the miniscule rural town she had so often dreamed about.

Percy sets the tone of this scene, as she sings of her new adventure, an adventure that begins as she first surveys the town of Gilead, “A window without bars, looking out on something free, in the town of Gilead, close my eyes and count to three - - - and there’s a ring around the moon, bigger than me, ready or not, here I am, olly olly oxen free!”

Percy’s parole requires she report immediately to a local parole officer, who in this case, is Gilead’s one and only policeman, Sheriff Joe Sutter (Nephi Speer). Joe asks her why she would ever want to come to Gilead, a town he describes as “ a place for leaving, not for coming to.” She produces from her denim pants pocket, the time worn magazine page with its picturesque glowing story and photographs, describing the images as “Autumn colors along Copper Creek, near Gilead, Wisconsin”.

He shakes his head, because he knows that since the town’s primary employer, a large rock quarry, closed down several years ago, the town has been in constant decline ever since. Knowing of only one possibility for employment, he delivers Percy to the town’s one remaining restaurant, The Spitfire Grill, and introduces her to the little restaurant’s tough and careworn owner, Hannah Ferguson (Ann Kendrick).

As Percy begins her first work day in the grill, Hannah, in her stern fashion, chides the girl, who responds angrily. Hannah continues vocally, “Smart-mouthed girl, fresh out of jail, can’t tell a skillet from a garbage pail. - - Keep in your place, this place is mine, mind your own business and we will get along fine - -“. Percy perceivers, does her job, and in spite of her inability to even boil water properly, she works hard and learns.

The story of an ex-convict coming to a new place to start over is certainly not new, nor unique, but the illustration and development of the character of everyone in town provides this story with its heartwarming and fulfilling promise. From the acerbic, gossip-generating postmistress and general store operator, Effy Krayneck (Nathalie Archangel), to the tough, gruff and occasionally motherly Hannah, to her abusive, male chauvinist control-freak son Caleb (Richard Howarter), to his mousy and subservient wife, Shelby (Steph Peek), to the mysterious visitor (Bill Dietz), this story is about people, how they can contribute and how they can change, if they are motivated to do so. Most of all, it is about how a total stranger with a deeply troubling past, manages to rebuff the town’s small mindedness and turn the small town around, awakening and re-defining its new heart.

When Hannah suffers an injury from a fall, Percy takes over the grill, or attempts to. The Sheriff encourages Hannah to employ Hannah’s daughter-in-law, Shelby, to come to work for the grill, at least temporarily, to get through the emergency. Shelby does go to work for the grill over her husband’s strenuous objections and in a short time, she and Percy become good friends. Together they begin to bring new life to the Spitfire Grill.

There is another secret hidden in the forest along Copper Creek in Gilead, a deep dark secret waiting to be discovered, which I will leave for you to discover as the show unfolds.

Then one day Percy learns that Hannah has been trying to sell the grill for years, but there have been no offers and no takers. Shelby says Hannah has even been willing to give the grill away, but no one really wants it. Then, in sort of a joking exchange of ideas, Percy comes up with the idea of conducting a giant raffle or contest, in which people would submit a simple essay as to why they would want to move to Gilean to own and run this little restaurant, The Spitfire Grill. The contest entrants are to mail their essays to the Spitfire, accompanied by a $100 donation in order to participate. The winner would be selected by Hannah and she would turn over the Spitfire Grill to the essay writer with the tale that she liked best.
After a lot of consternation, Hannah comes around to thinking that this idea might not be a bad idea after all. The three gals put together an advertisement that becomes a national human interest story phenomenon, as the unique idea of giving away a business by raffle, is picked up and spread like wildfire by the media, eventually reaching interested people all across the country. Perhaps their fortunes are about to change! You will have to see the show to find out! It has a surprise ending that is very believable and uplifting.

Every actor contributes significantly, uniquely to the overall richness of this story and gives pause for us to search out the occasionally humorous and poetically poignant fabric that ties together life in a small town. It is hard to pick out favorites because this is truly a masterful ensemble production. Everybody “done good”! The voices are superb, the music is memorable and the lyrics echo the underlying messages that electrify and resonate with the audience. Much like a penny opera, the songs and lyrics meld continuously into the story adding to the resonate beauty of the piece.

I have to mention the incredible set designed by Tom Matousek with special touches by Director Kimberly James. This is one of the most delightfully artistic I have yet see in this very small venue. Also, the musicians, Brian Roberts (keyboards), Marjorie McWee (mandolin), Kerry Borgen (violin) and Joshua Mikus-Mahoney (Cello) were a perfect addition to the production. Josh Mahoney filled in for Gretchen Egan, who had another commitment during this particular evening’s production.

“The Spitfire Grill” plays Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8;15 p.m., with matinees on Saturdays and Sundays at 2:15 p.m., now through May 31st in the Dean Lesher Regional Center for the Arts at 1601 Civic Drive in Walnut Creek. Call (925) 943-7469 (SHOW) for visit the Dean Lesher Regional Center for the Arts website at the following link : www.lesherartscenter.org/onstagenow/buy_tickets or visit the box office at 1601 Civic Drive in Walnut Creek, or at the Barnes and Noble Walnut Creek book store ticket outlet. Tickets range between $21 for students and $28 for adults. Seniors are only $26 each. Don’t miss this terrific show!

"Boleros for the Disenchanted" sings poignantly of yesterdays romantic dance of love, love labored, love tested, but love not lost!

Meanwhile, in San Francisco, the ACT Theatre brings another powerful work by author Jose Rivera, entitled Boleros for the Disenchanted, to their theatre. This show is currently drawing rave reviews and standing ovations. Rivera is the first Puerto Rican playwright to be nominated for an Oscar Award, for his screenplay for the movie, "Diarios de Motocicleta", or The Motorcyle Diaries, the story of a youthful Che Guevara and Alberto Granada.

Boleros for the Disenchanted is a touching story of how Rivera’s mother and father met and fell in love, and their journey to the United States in the 1950’s. It examines the trials, tribulations, fidelity, infidelity, love and loyalty that encompassed their lives, played out in their later years.

The beautiful and simple set designed by Ralph Funicello brought immediate recognition (applause) as the curtain rose on the production. A simple but colorful home in 1950’s Puerto Rico, in a village called Milaflores, set the scene.

A young Flora (Lela Loren) comes out of the house crying following the news that her fiancé has been having an affair with another woman (perhaps several or many women). Flora refuses to believe that the “love of her life” could possibly cheat on her. Her mother, Dona Milla (Rachel Ticotin), tries to discuss the facts of life and the realities of the way many men behave at this time in their poor and impoverished country. She doesn’t make excuses, she tries to make her daughter face up to what they (mother and daughter) now believe may be true. Then her father Don Fermin (Robert Beltran), returns home, so drunk he can hardly stand. A minor battle ensues between father and daughter, before the denounced fiancé Manuelo (Dion Mucciacito) shows up and is confronted with the accusations of his infidelity.

He doesn’t exactly deny them, he vacillates, eventually justifying his infidelity, stating that “men are not men” if they don’t stray with certain types of women (not the kind of girl he is engaged to however). At this point, after Manuelo is unable to convince his fiancé that he has really been doing her a favor by exercising his sexual prowess with “other women”, they split up, and she returns her engagement ring.

Flora is terribly hurt by Manuelo’s infidelity and she is talked into taking a little trip, off to another village, Santurce, where she will live for a while with her cousin, Petra (Michele Vazquez). Her cousin is full of life and a bit of a flirt. One day while in the center of town, near Petra’s apartment, a young National Guardsman who has missed his bus back to the base, happens upon the young ladies sitting outside a little liquor and grocery store, as he walks by. Eusebio (Drew Cortese) is immediately attracted to Flora. Petra flirts with him, but Flora remains aloof, withdrawn (somewhat still depressed over her previous failed love affair). The young man continues to miss his bus every night for the next two weeks, forcing him to walk by Flora and Petra’s home, until he is sure Flora has noticed his attempt to see her again.

Finally, reservedly, Flora does engage the young man in conservation and he, politely, does ask to meet her family, to gain permission to meet with Flora with the family’s blessing. Eusebio garners the family’s favor when he confronts the former fiancé and puts him down, properly, intelligently.

Before long, they marry and then break her family’s heart, when they announce that their only future, financially, is to do like so many other young Puerto Ricans, move to the United States. In the final act, they have ended up in their later years in Daleville, Alabama.

Life has not been great, but they have survived and basically have had a good life together. At this point of their life, 39 years later, the husband Eusebio (now played y Robert Beltran) has diabetes and has lost both of his legs, is bedridden and taken care 24 hours a day by his wife, Flora (now played by Rachel Ticotin).

Eusebio tells his wife of a very disturbing dream in which he was visited by an angel, who tells him that he is about to die in two days. In order to be ready, he insists his wife call a priest who can grant him his last rights and absolution. Even though Flora feels that this is ridiculous, she grants his wish and has a priest come. Unfortunately, in the process, Eusebio admits earlier infidelities in his life, not just the first one that his wife had found out about many years earlier and for which she had forgiven him, but a second infidelity, that she was not aware of. This infidelity infuriates her, a betrayal that she now considers a final slap in the face. At this point, the husband cannot understand how this infidelity many years ago can be making her so angry now!

The story is really a story of the trials and relationships we encounter in life, the right and wrong of them, their impact on our relationships and how, even with terrible missteps, love engendered over many years can still endure in some fashion. This is a very romantic story, sad, poignant and touching.

As is typical of ACT, the acting is superb! The costumes by Sandra Woodall are most excellent. Carey Perloff’s direction is once again, brilliant! This story really pulls at the heartstrings and helps us to realize that everyone has warts, some more obvious than others, and even with warts, we can still love the frogs!

Boleros for the Disenchanted plays Tuesdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m., with matinees at 2 p.m., on Wednesdays, May 20th and 27th at 2 p.m., on Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m., continuing now through Sunday May 31st. Call (415) 749-2228 for reservations or order on line at www.act-sf.org or visit their box office at 405 Geary Street in San Francisco. The theatre is located at 415 Geary Street, just one blocks West from Union Square. This is an excellent love story and brings back a lot of memories of the 1950’s.