Ross Valley Players’ final offering of their 93rd season is a comedy, Native Gardens, on stage now through June 11 at the Barn Theater in Ross. The story is written by Karen Zacarias (founder of Latinx Theatre Commons and Young Playwrights Theater) and directed by Mary Ann Rodgers who has won multiple awards from the SF Bay Area Theater Critics Circle for her acting and directing. The actors extraordinary talent (especially Steve Price) and the fine work from the production team make this show a real winner!
Audiences are immediately impressed by the magnificent set—thanks to the creativity of Malcolm Rodgers (Set & Property Design), Dhyanis Carniglia (Scenic Painter) and Michael Walraven (Set Construction). Running down the middle of the stage is a single fence separating two back yards. On one side is an award-winning, colorful garden brimming with beautiful non-native plants and flowers. It is tended by Frank Butley (Steve Price), and his wife Virginia (Ellen Brooks) an older couple who have lived there for many years. The Butley’s are excited that a young couple has just moved in next door. Hoping to make friends, they welcome the new neighbors, the Del Valle’s, with chocolate and wine.
The Del Valle’s are expecting a baby any day. Even so, Tania Del Valle (Jannely Calmell) and her husband Pablo (Eric Esquivel-Gutierrez), an attorney, are eager to impress his colleagues at the firm who are coming for a backyard barbecue in less than a week’s time. Tania and Pablo decide a more attractive new fence is in order and Tania’s plan to create an earth-friendly, native garden is fast-tracked, creating a conflict as the property line comes into question.
As the story develops, familiar stereotypes, prejudices and historical controversies all come into play, but Zacarias’ humor is added into the mix. A brilliant, laugh out loud ending brings all the characters together despite their differences.
This fall Ross Valley Players presents The Glass Menagerie, written by Tennessee Williams and directed by David Abrams, September 15-October 15.
Co-written by Lori Wood
