By: Teri Kinne
Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) 6/3/2024 – Walking into the lobby of the Casa 0101 Theater, I was pleased to see a line of guests waiting for the inner theater doors to open. Feeling the pre-show excitement, I joined the queue. When the opening bells chimed, we moved like a giant anaconda into a curious black tunnel.
It felt eerie walking into the darkness until I saw the walls surrounding me were moving with projected images of sprouting leaves, blooming flowers, a jungle of vines. I heard parrots caw and a monkey screech. I continued toward the light of the open doors and into the traditional small theater I had expected.
To my left was the wide wood deck of the stage, and to my right, the rising stadium of theater seats. Yet, surrounding it all was the same dynamic movement of color, forest life, and exotic animal sounds as in the tunnel. There, center stage, was the character of Frida on a shawl-draped bed. I liked it here. I wanted to stay, immersed in the environment and mind of Frida Kahlo during her last week alive. And I did, for the next hour and a half.
The first scene of Frida – Stroke of Passion: The Immersive Experienceopened on Frida’s 47th birthday and the story ended a week later at her suspicious death. After the final actor’s bow, I walked out and through that same black tunnel but felt changed and thoughtful.
After the show, I met playwright and lead Odalys Nanin. Our hands reached to each other in warm greeting, though it was our first meeting. Hers felt alive with the vibrancy of a successful performance.
“You know, I’ve written 10 plays?” she said.
Of course I did, I’d researched the creator and star of this show in preparation for this article. But I stayed silent to see how she would continue.
“But everyone wanted me to create a play about Frida. I didn’t want to,” She said, explaining how we got to this moment. Like most of us, she knew a lot about Frida’s life—the famous husband, the lovers, the tortured surreal art, and the broken body— but what about the end of it? No one had looked at this phase of Frida’s life closely.
Odalys was curious. Why did Frida die a week after her birthday? What was that week like? Who was her last lover? How did she really die? Odalys began researching, imagining and writing. The play that resulted in 2017 won Eddon Awards for best production and best performance (Odalys as Frida) in an intimate venue.
Now we can experience the reimagined production with lively set design by Marco de Leon, lighting design by Alex Para, and immersive design by Anthony Stornolio.
Opening night of Frida – Stroke of Passion: The Immersive Experience was last Saturday and runs through June 9 on weekends at the Casa 0101 Theater in Boyle Heights. This historic neighborhood is teeming with creativity, and Casa 0101 is one of its vibrant spots. Corky Dominguez directs this production and his experience of more than 40 years directing, producing and acting shines here.
Creator and playwright, Odalys convincingly portrays Frida. I was drawn into the first scene as Odalys, as older Frida, sits one-legged on her bed alone but animated; fanning herself and smiling, smoking, enjoying her garden sights and sounds. Though there was no other action for three minutes I was mesmerized. I felt as confined in the moment as she was to her bed.
A supporting cast of lovers played by Gabriella Ortiz, Corina Vela, and Mair Flores, were entertaining. Frida’s “frog-faced” husband Diego Rivera, played by Oscar Basulto was well done. I enjoyed being annoyed but protective of Nurse Judith (Tricia Cruz) who responsibly dispenses Frida’s pain meds. A deer-headed entity flits in and out of Frida’s consciousness, beautifully enacted by Alex Honarato.
The spirit of Trotsky was voiced by Paul Cascante. The memory of little Diego was voiced by Isabella Donnelly. I was particularly affected by the small role of a trusted family friend, Manolo, played by actor Francisco Medina. Medina also played a guitar in the role of the musician, and I recognized some iconic songs. However, I strained to hear the vocals on two of them, both from lovely singers whom I wanted to experience. The actors may not have projected their voices enough or one was muffled by a hat.
The set dressing, visuals and animation of them, the lighting and effects, and how they integrated into the story was exceptional. Angelica Ornelas managed the stage activity smoothly.
I came out of the black tunnel wondering what art Frida could have produced if she had not been in physical pain, emotional pain and anesthetized by medication. I also wondered if those very struggles were the source of her profound artistry.
Frida – Stroke of Passion: The Immersive Experience is presented by Macha Theatre/Films and is playing at Casa 0101 Theater, 2102 East First Street, Los Angeles. Showing Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m., Sundays at 5:00 p.m. through June 9. Free parking is offered in the lot behind Boyle Heights City Hall at 2130 E. 1st Street. Tickets are $40 and can be purchased at http://machatheatre.org. You can catch the trailer at https://vimeo.com/952721050
