Theater Review: "Dramatis Personae"

Fiction writing has never been as painful as it is in “Dramatic Personae,” where characters come to life, haunt, sometimes even threaten to stab the author until they finish writing.

That is the situation that the writers within “Dramatic Personae” find themselves in. Written by Peruvian playwright Gonzalo Rodriguez Risco’s and funded by the Playwright's Realm (which produces one work a year from up-and-coming playwrights), the play made its premiere Off Broadway at the Cherry Lane Studio on Oct. 1.

The play follow three writers - Lucas (Felix Solis), Ben (Gerardo Rodriquez) and Marla (Liza Fernandez) - as they try and transform their slivers of ideas into stories, holding weekly meetings to try and develop those ideas, all the while asking the eternal question of any writer: "Where does inspiration come from?" Real life? Some dark recesses of the mind?

This all occurs during the Peru’s political conflict of the early 1990’s, which happens in the background and the audience never sees it, save for the occasional explosion which is treated as a nuisance rather than a catastrophe.

There is a semblance of something achingly like conflict. Yet the title “Dramatis Personae” acts as its own plot summary. It is not a political drama.

Instead, it is submersion into the psyche of the writer where the story scenarios are acted out for the audience’s amusement. Unfortunately, like most writers’ minds, the play itself is emotionally removed and psychologically detached from its surroundings.

As seen in the very first scene on stage, which is a cluttered apartment with a completely broken window, there is obviously something larger happening outside of the apartment where the writers hold their weekly meeting: shootings, hostages captured and political coups.

At one point Marla, whose ex-husband has been taken as a hostage, looks through the shattered window. She says, with the right amount of disbelief, “We’re here talking about shootings while people six floors down are experience something we can never possibly imagine.”

She is right, and it is this discrepancy that keeps the play from completely engaging its audience on the emotional level.

The writing process is difficult and that struggle between the authors and their ideas comes across authentically with a touch of dry and sometimes ribald humor. Yet too much is placed on that inner struggle and not enough on the repercussions that the political turmoil would have on writers. They seem to barely notice the shootings occurring outside and that makes the play inauthentic.

The three writers are multi-faceted and sympathetic, a credit to Solis, Rodriquez and Fernadez who work well together and with the shallow material. Solis anchors the entire play, effectively channeling the writer’s frustration and guilt. He is continually haunted by his dead brother and by writer’s block, trying to find some inspiration that is not rooted in death.

Yet when the prime minister of Peru has been assassinated and bombs are going off, writer’s block and a ghost seems small in comparison.

Michael Locher’s realistic set design and Nathan A. Roberts music cues set the proper mood of frustration and isolation that each writer feels. That and the performances keep things interesting.

As such, “Dramatis Personae” is an enjoyable and witty experience, partially because the writer’s psyche is an imaginative and fun place to be. Just try not to look for any deep political or social message that would elevate the material.

"Dramatis Personae"

Through Oct. 23

75 minutes
Cherry Lane Studio Theatre
38 Commerce Street
New York, NY 10014

And here is a code, dear readers, for buy one, get one free tickets. Enjoy!

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