Theater -- Tom Titus

Sometimes, you’ve just got to be in the right place at the right time.

Laura Viramontes was at South Coast Repertory, working as a marketing

coordinator, two years ago when SCR mounted the world premiere of Jose

Rivera’s surrealistic drama “References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot.”

This weekend she directs the play at Orange Coast College.

Viramontes, a theater major at OCC, fell in love with the play and

submitted it as a directing project for the college’s April slot --

which traditionally is filled by a full-length play staged by an advanced

directing student. Her submission won out over those of several other

students and “Salvador Dali” will open Saturday, a production of the OCC

Repertory Theater Company, for a two-weekend engagement in the college’s

Studio Theatre.

“I’ve loved the show from the first moment I saw it,” says Viramontes,

29, who’s been taking OCC classes off and on since 1995 and will be directing her 13th show on campus. Three of those productions were

full-length plays, the other 10 were one-acts.

“I first saw the show when it was being work-shopped as South Coast

Rep, and was so taken by it that I managed to secure a copy of the script

and read it,” the director recalled. “I liked it even more seeing it on

the written page. The language of this play is so lyrical and

beautiful.”

The play is a contemporary drama set in the desert heat of Barstow,

where Gabriela, the wife of career soldier Benito, discovers a surreal

fantasy world to help her cope with his long absences. There -- where the

moon plays the violin and a cat dances with a coyote -- she finds the

poetry and passion that are missing from her real life.

“Gabriela lives in her own fantasy world,” Viramontes says. “She’s

drawn there by loneliness. But to her, that fantasy world is tangible

reality.”

The play is written in both English and Spanish, and Viramontes --

who’s fluent in both languages -- notes that Spanish words frequently are

inserted into the script to capture a feeling or emotion.

At OCC, Gabriela will be portrayed by Angela Lopez, while Andrew

Vonderschmitt plays Benito and doubles as the moon. Others in the cast

are Vincent Torres, Jessica Teter, Nancy Troia, Chris Meditz and Josh

Lash.

Viramontes, who met playwright Rivera during the production at SCR,

says the show has caused a buzz in the college’s theater department.

“Everyone is really interested in this show; the word has spread like

wildfire,” she says. “Many theater students have come up to me and

offered their services to assist backstage or to help out in any other

way they can. There seems to be a lot of positive anticipation for this

show.”

The student director took her first acting class at OCC seven years

ago, specifically to rid herself of stage fright.

“I’ve always been afraid to go on stage,” she admits, “but I wanted to

confront my fears, and at the same time, I discovered a whole new world

right here at Orange Coast College. I’ve had a wonderful, amazing

experience on this campus. OCC has changed my life.”

Viramontes plans to take several more OCC theater classes, focusing on

set and lighting design and costuming, before transferring to a four-year

university.

“I want to be well rounded in all aspects of the theater,” she says.

“My dream is to have my own stage company someday.”

As opening night for “Salvador Dali” approaches, Viramontes is looking

forward to it with nervous anticipation.

“I think it’s going to be quite an exciting evening,” she says.

“Everyone is expecting a strong production, and I don’t think we’re going

to disappoint them.”

* TOM TITUS writes about and reviews local theater for the Daily

Pilot. His stories appear Thursdays and Saturdays.