The monthly bi-ligual newspaper ran another review of my last play. I thought you might enjoy reading it.
Billed as a “comedic musical revue” to be performed in Spanishlish, I had no idea what “El Grande de Coco Cola” was going to be like. It turned out to be a whacky, silly, slapstick performance that was VERY funny. Produced The Chiriqui Players, with Jim Hatch as director, “El Grande de Coca Cola” showed six nights in June at Tammy's Restaurant.
The restaurant was decorated as a down-at-the-heels nightclub with all things Coca Cola, very festive in a very tacky way. Dinner was included in the ticket price with a choice of a falafel or wood-smoked chicken. (I had the falafel, one of my favorite items on Tammy's menu).
Pepe Hernandez, a third rate empresario played by an exuberant Henry Spierer, decides to put on a musical extravaganza, sponsored by Coca Cola and starring members of his family. A group of very talented local actors, Henry Spierer, Marni Craig, Pam Pankratz, Tom Werder, Julian Bonfiglio, Conner Craig and Paul Day—many who are known for their theatric and musical talents—play very bad “estrellas,” who have no musical or acting abilities. Pepe's family can't sing, they can't dance, and they can't act. They sing loudly and badly, bump into each other, fall over each other, and compete with each other for the spotlight. The audience had great fun, hooting, hollering and in some ill-mannered instances, throwing paper wads at the actors on stage.
Although the show was in Spanish, Spanglish, German and some French, the English speaking audience didn't need to be able to speak Spanish because so much of the show was physical comedy—and the bad Spanish amused the Panamanians in the audience. My favorite acts were the Jugglers, the first part of a very silly story about Toulouse Lautrec, a German version of the “Twist,’ Blind Joe Jackson, and the wedding ceremony. The actors were all high energy, very animated, and gave their all.
Pepe will be taking his show and his “parada de estrellas” on the road, when “El Grande de Coca Cola” opens in Bocas del Toro and at OTEIMA University in David.
Chiriqui Productions has now been a part of the Boquete community for over a year. During that time, it has brought us high quality performances using actors who often have had no previous acting experience. No mean feat indeed.
Look for another production of the Chiriqui Players in August or September entitled “Lettice & Lovage.” If past performances are any indication, “Lettice & Lovage” is going to be a show that you won't want to miss.
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