(rather more appropriate this time)
Sometimes
titles of plays (or novels, short stories, etc.) can prove problematical. At
least they should give a hint to the audience what awaits. Some alas make very little sense (Other Desert Cities I’m looking
at you). Others, such as the Jonathan Ceniceroz’ The Cruise at LATC
end up a source of contemplation, because the title actually suggests so
much. Consider the word “cruise.” Obviously, given the play takes place on a
cruise ship, we have the simple act of traveling on the surface of the sea—as
ancient a metaphor for life as boats. It also harkens to “cruising” as in
looking for partners. And to constant
travel without landing anywhere, never really finding a home.
All
of which makes perfect sense. Because
this play explores all that and more.
James
(Kenneth Lopez) comes aboard the
Majestic, a high-end cruise ship, to spend some time with his semi-estranged
father Ramon (Ric Salinas), recently
hired to give an entertaining lecture about native peoples in the
Caribbean. As father shows off the digs,
son clearly feels uncomfortable. Part of it seems discomfort over Ramon’s
unrelenting enthusiasm that reaches the level of garish. As time goes by,
layers peel back and we learn more. Some of it we probably expect. Yeah, James
is gay. No, Ramon did not get this job under totally above-board circumstances
(he gave a false name and lied about his credentials). All this sounds like something of a zany
comedy coupled with a bonding experience between father and son so far, right?
 |
| Credit: Grettel Cortes Photography |
It
proves more. Soon enough James meets
Judith (Carolyn Almos) and her
partner Howard (Gary Lamb), taking
one of many mini-vacations aboard the Majestic.
They turn out to be conservatives who’ve come into money and now want to
enter politics. Well, Judith has and does. She wants to help groom a Latino for the GOP
nomination to the legislature. Given
this day and age, one might expect this pair to be demonized. Not so.
At the very least, maybe a Jekyll and Hyde situation wherein an evil
bigot emerges when the subject turns to politics. Again, not so.
Given
these end up coming across as charming, in many ways positive, and very much
individuals, formula might call for James and Ramon to function as
stereotypes. But yet again, not so. The layers continue to peel back, revealing
surprises.
For
example, James recently panicked over a long term relationship. He feels adrift, unsure of what his life can
or should be. Ramon it turns out has a
long, long history political activism—so much so it ultimately wore away at his
wife’s considerable patience at his absenteeism and lack of support. His planned lecture aims to upset the guests
with extremely unpleasant truths about Christopher Columbus.
 |
| Credit: Grettel Cortes Photography |
Navigating
amid such shoals we find Cruise Director Boyd (Brian Wallace), whose long history with Ramon blends enmity as well
as friendship, frustration and loyalty, even some romance as well as fierce
judgment. Boyd’s character seems almost
designed to steal the show, with a scalpel-sharp wit and ability to
metaphorically tap dance with great skill. He’s the Malvolio of the play, far
from the lead but too vivid to forget and whose presence put everything else
into sharp relief. Under Heath Cullens’ direction, in fact, the whole ensemble
does a fantastic job of keeping a lot of emotional, dramatic and comic balls in
the air simultaneously. Perhaps what
impresses most is how those balls have not at all come to rest as the play
ends. They remain in the air, although
moving on to a different pattern—one we can only guess at.
Ultimately
we end up with a show full of genuine and warm charm, but a charm that firmly
bites. The script brought to life cuts
us, but with an extremely sharp blade—one effortlessly and almost painlessly
breaking the skin to leave a delicate scar, yet without drawing one drop of
blood.
The
Cruise,
produced the Latino Theatre Company, plays Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at
8pm and Sundays at 3pm until April 9, 2017 at the Los Angeles Theatre Center,
514 South Spring Street, Los Angeles CA 90013.
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