Miracle Theatre Group blazes into their 24th season with a
pitch-perfect production of Mariela in the Desert, the Northwest
premiere of the play by Karen Zacarías. This production, by
turns enlightening, hilarious, and heart wrenching, is a joyous
reminder that we are ridiculously fortunate to have the Miracle here in
Portland. They produce newer work sooner than the larger theaters, and
they bring an honesty, professional dedication, and commitment to their
craft that is hard to find in a town this size.
Mariela in the Desert is a story of strangled creativity and
great potential, of familial love and cruelty, and the fine lines that
separate them—or don’t. It is 1950, in the desert of northern
Mexico. Mariela (Miracle Artistic Director Olga Sanchez) and her
husband José (newcomer Phil Stockton), rising artists of the
1930s, left Mexico City for a ranch in the desert so that José
could unleash his creativity. But the move that José intended to
vault him forward has ended up holding the entire family back, and the
creativity of both artists has dried and withered under the desert sun.
Mariela sublimated her own talent and passion to care for her family,
and José grew bitter and disengaged, succumbing to a
debilitating disease. Their daughter Blanca (Ina Strauss) ran away to
Mexico City, and son Carlos (Kurt Conroyd), long dead, lives vividly
among them as a ghost and a memory.
Indeed, memories and ghosts of the past weigh heavily on this
family. Unanswered questions, past mistakes, and misguided attempts to
give and receive love make the silences in this house louder than the
arguments. The only person each member of the family can communicate
with honestly is Blanca’s American boyfriend, Adam (David Sikking). As
the outsider, he is the only one who isn’t weighed down by the baggage
of the past.
The entire cast performs in harmony in this production, working as
an ensemble to bring fully dimensional characters to the stage. Mark
Haack has created yet another jaw-droppingly beautiful set, which
absolutely glows under Kristeen Crosser’s lighting. The beauty,
desolation, and vibrant ache of the desert come to life on the Miracle
stage for this production, which really shouldn’t be missed. If you’ve
never been to the Miracle, start now.