Knocking on the theater door
Young Chang
Oranges stewed in vats of hot sangria-like punch during Carla
Jimenez’s childhood.
They fragranced the whole house around Christmas-time, harmonizing
with the smells of tamales and other edible Latino traditions.
Today, the oranges fragrance Jimenez’s memories of her girlhood
posadas -- an annual Christmas procession commemorating the New Testament
story of how Joseph and Mary searched for a place to rest prior to the
birth of Jesus.
Posadas brought Jimenez’s family together every year. Brought back the
older sisters and their kids and the nearby relatives who wanted to walk
through the Catholic ritual together.
South Coast Repertory’s eighth production of “La Posada Magica” is
said to have that same magnetic draw.
Jimenez and fellow cast member Sol Castillo agree that the Second
Stage show attracts a Latino majority on some nights. Every year, the
connections run deeper -- one family attending for the seventh year in a
row brings another family attending for the fifth time, who brings a
brand new family convinced that the “Posada” must become their holiday
theater thing.
“It’s grown to be more of a family experience,” Castillo, 28, said.
“It’s very family oriented and in the cast, everyone has known each other
for many years.”
The musical play, which opens Dec. 9 and runs through the 23rd,
showcases a cast of seven, directed by Diane Rodriquez. The theater
company commissioned the play from Octavio Solis, with music by Marcos
Loya, nine years ago.
“La Posada Magica” tells the story of 14-year-old Gracie (played by
Tiffany Ellen Solano) and her experience with a posada on Christmas Eve.
Her little brother has died, making Gracie mad, sad and adverse to
celebration. But neighbors bring posada by her home, sweeping the girl
along with them.
Gracie blows out the processional candles, causing a set of
misadventures. The group gets lost, meets bad guys and, through a
miracle, relearns the meaning of Christmas.
Castillo, who plays procession member Refugio for the second
consecutive year, said the warmth of last year’s cast and the eclectic
mix of mariachi and jazz music brought him back this time around. He gets
a rock ‘n roll/blues solo called “I’m Your Lovin’ Santa” during the show.
The Irvine resident remembers wondering whether people would actually
fill the seats last year. Castillo, who is double cast as bad-boy
Buzzard, was surprised to meet veteran viewers both Latino and not, some
of whom had attended since year one.
Castillo has never participated in a real posada, which is
traditionally held every Christmas Eve, but says he would like to.
“I think it would be spiritually fulfilling and heartwarming,” he
said.
Jimenez, 27, said her personal history with the tradition makes her
role as Caridad, a godmother, worth the traffic-jammed commute from her
Sherman Oaks home. The spiritual relevance is what brought her back for
the second year.
“It’s kind of nice to do a play that has to do with my heritage,” she
said.
FYI
What: “La Posada Magica”
When: Dec. 9-23. 8 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 3 and 8 p.m. Saturday
and 12:30 and 4:30 p.m. Sunday. Previews will begin Dec. 7.
Where: South Coast Repertory’s Second Stage, 655 Town Center Drive,
Costa Mesa
Cost: $14-$34
Call: (714) 708-5555
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