{"id":9433,"date":"2018-10-26T22:30:46","date_gmt":"2018-10-27T05:30:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/travelingboy.com\/travel\/?p=9433"},"modified":"2018-12-31T18:11:30","modified_gmt":"2019-01-01T02:11:30","slug":"valley-of-the-heart-on-stage-at-the-mark-taper-forum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/travelingboy.com\/travel\/valley-of-the-heart-on-stage-at-the-mark-taper-forum\/","title":{"rendered":"Playwright Luis Valdez\u2019s \u201cValley of the Heart\u201d on Stage at the Mark Taper Forum"},"content":{"rendered":"

Theatre Review<\/h3>\n

There is no doubt that multi-award winning playwright Luis Valdez<\/strong> is a brilliant playwright, earning his stripes with his innovative \u201cZoot Suit,\u201d<\/strong> which premiered in 1978 <\/strong>at the Mark Taper Forum<\/strong> and subsequently made history by becoming the first Chicano <\/strong>musical to hit Broadway.<\/strong>\u00a0 His newest play, \u201cValley of the Heart\u201d<\/em> was greatly anticipated, but alas the production does not live up to the brilliance of his iconic \u201cZoot Suit,\u201d<\/strong> which is not the fault of the script.<\/p>\n

\"the
John Iacovelli\u2019s set design of the Monta\u00f1os, and the Yamaguchis living side by side on the farm in California\u2019s Santa Clara Valley in Luis Valdez\u2019s \u201cValley of the Heart\u201d on stage at the Mark Taper Forum presented in association with El Teatro Campesino.<\/span> Photo: Craig Schwartz<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Let\u2019s start with the script, which is very well written and begins in 1945.<\/strong>\u00a0 It tells the story of two immigrant families\u00a0 \u2013 the Yamaguchis,<\/strong> a Japanese-American<\/strong> family who own a farm in California\u2019s Santa Clara Valley<\/strong> known today as Silicon Valley.<\/strong> They share the land with the Monta\u00f1os,<\/strong> a Mexican-American<\/strong> family who are sharecroppers living in a small, quite rural farmhouse adjacent to the Yamaguchis.<\/strong>\u00a0 Both families are friendly with each other and are determined to give their American-<\/strong>born children a slice of the American<\/strong> dream.\u00a0 Unbeknownst to the respective parents, the first generation Americans<\/strong> from each family are secretly in love with each other.<\/p>\n

\"Daniel
L-R: Daniel Valdez (Cayetano Monta\u00f1o,) Randall Nakano (Ichiro Yamaguchi,) and Joy Osmanski (Hana Yamaguchi) enjoy a moment together.<\/span> Photo: Craig Schwartz<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"the
L-R: Benjamin Monta\u00f1o (Lakin Valdez) with his wife Thelma Yamaguchi (Melanie Arii Mah), (background) Hana Yamaguchi, (Joy Osmanski,) Joe \u201cYoshi\u201d Yamaguchi (Justin Chien,) and Calvin Sakamoto (Scott Keiji Takeda) on their way to the Heart Mountain Relocation Camp in Wyoming. A Kurogo looms in the background.<\/span> Photo: Craig Schwartz<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In view of the White House\u2019s<\/strong> draconian action against immigrants, this eerily timely story is told through the prism of World War II<\/strong> when Japanese <\/strong>citizens were ripped from their homes and put into detention facilities, which were ill equipped concentration camps. Their crime?\u00a0 Being Japanese.<\/strong>\u00a0 And for that, they were considered the enemy of the United States of America <\/strong>who was at war with Japan<\/strong> following the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor<\/strong>.\u00a0 So far.\u00a0 So good.\u00a0 The script captures the painful words and action this Japanese family endured as they prepare to leave for the Heart Mountain Relocation Camp in Wyoming<\/strong> with just whatever they could carry. Their Mexican <\/strong>neighbors give them moral support, assuring them that they would take care of the farm until their Japanese<\/strong> friends were returned home.<\/p>\n

In addition to a beautifully crafted script, the production values are outstanding, beginning with David Murakami\u2019s<\/strong> projection design taking you into the surrounding vistas such as shots of crops and the pastoral country setting.\u00a0 Each of the family\u2019s homes are well designed by scenic designer John Iacovelli<\/strong>, who makes maximum use of the space, with Pablo Santiago\u2019s<\/strong> lighting design and Philip G.<\/strong> Allen\u2019s <\/strong>sound beautifully enhancing the action at hand.\u00a0 So, we have an outstanding script and outstanding production values.\u00a0 Sadly, what we don\u2019t have is an ensemble of skilled actors who could delve deeply into playwright\/director\u2019s Valdez\u2019s<\/strong> characters and deliver polished professional performances.<\/p>\n

\"Benjamin
Benjamin Monta\u00f1o (Lakin Valdez) with his secret girlfriend Thelma Yamaguchi (Melanie Arii Mah).<\/span> Photo: Craig Schwartz<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

However, there is one excellent performance given by Lakin Valdez<\/strong> who as Benjamin <\/strong>Monta\u00f1o<\/strong> is also the narrator of the story.\u00a0 He is in love with Thelma Yamaguchi<\/strong>, poorly played by Melanie Arii Mah<\/strong>, who gave what amounted to line readings.\u00a0 The actress never delved below the surface to reach the subtext of her character\u2019s lines and mostly indicated* her emotional moments.\u00a0 The story takes us through the interment, Benjamin <\/strong>and Thelma\u2019s <\/strong>marriage and the birth of their child, Benjamin\u2019s <\/strong>determination to get reunited with his Japanese<\/strong> family, the homecoming, a few musical and pantomime numbers that seemed dropped in for effect and so it goes until the end.\u00a0 All this said, I have the utmost respect and admiration for Mr. Valdez<\/strong> and look forward to whatever project he has on his backburner<\/p>\n

Other members of the cast gave performances ranging from rank amateur to possibly college level with some of the dialogue not even understandable.\u00a0 They include,\u00a0Moises Castro (Ernesto \u201cTito\u201d<\/em><\/strong> Monta\u00f1o,)<\/em> Justin Chien (Joe \u201cYoshi\u201d<\/em><\/strong> Yamaguchi,)<\/strong><\/em> Randall Nakano<\/strong> (Ichiro<\/em> Yamaguchi,)<\/em> Joy Osmanski, (Hana Yamaguchi,)<\/em><\/strong> Rose Portillo(Paula<\/em><\/strong> Monta\u00f1o,)<\/em><\/strong> Daniel Valdez (Cayetano<\/em> Monta\u00f1o,)<\/em><\/strong> Christy Sandoval (Maruca<\/em><\/strong> Monta\u00f1o,)<\/em><\/strong> and Scott Keiji Takeda (Calvin Sakamoto)<\/em>.\u00a0 <\/strong>I would be remiss if I didn\u2019t mention Mariela Arteaga<\/strong> and Michael Naydoe Pinedo,<\/strong> the mysterious figures draped in black from head to toe.\u00a0 They portrayed Kurogos,<\/strong> stagehands in traditional Japanese <\/strong>theatre who incorporate Kubuki-style movements.\u00a0 They moved on cat feet and gracefully aid in prop and set changes, as well as standing at attention as formidable guards looming in the background.<\/p>\n

\"internment
Scott Keiji Takeda (Calvin Sakamoto,) Justin Chien (Joe \u201cYoshi\u201d Yamaguchi,) Melanie Arii Mah,(Thelma Yamaguchi,) and Joy Osmanski (Hana Yamaguchi,) try to make the best of their terrible living conditions.<\/span> Photo: Craig Schwartz<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Calvin
With guards dressed in black from head to toe looming in the background, Calvin Sakamoto (Scott Keiji Takeda) is under arrest for protesting.<\/span> Photo: Craig Schwartz<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The big take-away is a reminder that the interment of the Japanese <\/strong>people is one of the blackest marks in American <\/strong>history and one we thought we would never witness again.\u00a0 Alas, a similar black mark is unfolding right before our eyes as we see immigrant families torn apart and most recently mothers and small children being tear gassed as they attempt to cross the border.\u00a0 Valdez\u2019s <\/strong>play sharply illuminates the agony inflicted upon innocent people when a government unilaterally decides that a race of people is a danger to the nation\u2019s security.<\/p>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n

*“Indicating” is an acting term meaning when an actor fakes an emotion instead of having it emanate from a truthful place.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mark Taper Forum
\n135 N. Grand Avenue
\nLos Angeles, CA 90012<\/p>\n

Run:<\/p>\n