BLIND MOUTH SINGING

In June I wrote favorably of the revival of Falsettoland produced by the National Asian American Theatre Company (NAATCO). The barebones production resembled a reading, so it was something of a revelation for me to see the company's attractive, fully-staged production of Blind Mouth Singing, running at the equally attractive Baruch Performing Arts Center (pictured) through Saturday, October 6, 2007.

Written by Jorge Ignacio Cortiñas and directed by Ruben Poléndo,
Blind Mouth Singing is a psychological family drama revolving around Reiderico (Durango's Jon Norman Schneider), a timid young man under the spell of Lucero (Alexis Camins), who somehow lives within a well. The play unfolds at a deliberate pace, perhaps just a little too slow in spots, as the two interact with each other and Reiderico's embittered mother (NAATCO artistic director Mia Katigbak), secretive aunt (Sue Jean Kim), and bullying brother Gordy (Orville Mendoza). An air of allegory permeates the work, but the play also has a sense of flux that keeps matters from being too sharply defined or heavy-handed.

Just as Falsettos was cross-culturally enriched by casting Asian American actors in Jewish roles, this production blended ethnic influences. I especially liked what I considered to be Japanese touches, from Zachary Zirlin's set design to the Kabukiesque musical cues for Gordy. (Musician Adam Cochran also accompanied a cutting remark from Reinaldo's mother with an exquisitely subtle knife-sharpening swoosh.) And the work seemed to have a strong affinity with the fiction of Haruki Murakami, too.

Consider giving this play a try; ticket discounts will probably be available at most of the usual places.