Skylight Theatre Company Presents the West Coast Premiere of La Egoista. Written by Erlina Ortiz. Directed by Dr. Daphnie Sicre. Produced by Gary Grossman for Skylight Theatre Company. Associate Producer is Tyree Marshall.
Almost like a sinister coincidence, La Egoista opened up a few days before the tragic event in Germany. Of course, the comparisons will be inevitable and they might trigger strong reactions both positive and negative to the story. But the main focus on Erlina Ortiz‘s play is the challenging balance of following one’s dreams and finding the time to take care of a family member in need.
Josefina (Lys Perez) is a rising stand-up comic, always on the move, trying to book more gigs. Her sister Betsaida (Chanel Castañeda) suffers from a debilitating medical condition that requires spending time at the hospital. One of the conflicts of their relationship is the fact that Betsaida is a Jehova’s Witness. Josefina left the religion and the house to pursue her own dreams while her mom was sick, something that comes up as they argue about family responsibilities. The passing of their mom and Betsaida’s condition become stressful experiences that can either strengthen or weaken their relationship.
Dr. Sicre delivers a creative and less passive play that turns experimental at times, allowing the audience to participate and become more invested in the characters and story. On Friday, this worked out as a hilarious scene in itself. Another interesting aspect of the play is the set (Scenic Design: Stephen Gifford), the downstage is the stage where Josefina performs, while the center upstage becomes the hospital and the sisters’ house. The puppets (Puppet Design: Christine Papalexis) are turned into characters in various scenes and serve as comedic elements as well. The cross-cutting scene highlights the contrasting personalities and realities of Josefina and Betsaida, a hint of the inevitable drifting away from each other.
The character of Josefina drives most of the story and Perez shows her comedic and dramatic skills on every scene, delivering a touching portrayal of hope in the face of uncertainty.
La Egoista
Skylight Theatre
1816 1⁄2 North Vermont Ave.
Los Angeles, CA. 90027
March 4 – April 9
Opening: 8:30pm Saturday, March 4, 2023
Schedule: 8:30pm Fridays, Saturdays, 3:00pm Sundays, 7:30pm Mondays
(No performance on Monday, March 6)
Closing: April 9, 2023
Tickets: skylighttix.org
Written by Erlina Ortiz. Directed by Dr. Daphnie Sicre. Produced by Gary Grossman for Skylight Theatre Company. Associate Producer: Tyree Marshall. Cast: Chanel Castañeda and Lys Perez.
Scenic Design: Stephen Gifford. Lighting Design: Karyn Lawrence. Costume Design: Mylette Nora. Sound Design: Cristian Amigo. Prop Design: Michael O’Hara. Puppet Design: Christine Papalexis.
