“Native Gardens”: Bloomin’ Hysterical Comedy

Most of us think of ourselves as intelligent, rational people who believe that not only do we know what the right thing is, but we have no trouble actually doing it.

But as playwright Karen Zacarias shows us in her hilarious new play, “Native Gardens”, sometimes knowing and doing the right thing is a matter of personal perspective, and, more often than not, something subconsciously programmed by cultural and racial experience. There may be no conscious awareness of societal faux pax on our part, but those on the receiving end of those faux pax can misinterpret them in disastrous – though fortunately for audiences – very funny ways.

The Red Barn Theatre continues its highly lauded 38th season with this lively and witty examination of race, class, taste, and politics this Tuesday, as “Native Gardens” opens a three-week run. The play features spot-on characterizations by veteran Key West actors Bob Bowersox. Luis Febo, Morgan Fraga, and Rebecca Gleason. It is directed by Murphy Davis.

Frank Butley (Bowersox) is a retired government employee now spending his days tending his ornate English garden, perennially hoping to win his Horticultural Society’s Best Garden Award – something he has never managed to do. His wife Virginia (Gleason), an engineer at Lockheed Martin, dutifully supports him. Their home in Georgetown is a showplace, with every blade of grass in place.

Enter young attorney Pablo Del Valle (Febo) and his very pregnant wife, Tania (Fraga), who buy the shabby fixer-upper next door. The two couples make friends across the gorgeous stretch of Frank’s flowers between their respective properties. Gifts of wine and chocolates are exchanged, good humor seems to be the order of the day.

But earlier that day, Pablo – in his efforts to make partner at his law firm – had invited the entire firm to his house for a barbecue on the weekend. He suggests removing an ugly metal fence separating the properties and putting up a new wood one. This is received happily by Frank and Virginia…Frank has viewed the ugly, old fence as one of the reasons he’s not been able to win Best Garden.

Then all goes awry. A survey shows that years ago, the fence was installed two feet from the property line, meaning that Frank’s beloved garden is actually on the del Valle’s land, not his own. And Pablo wants it back. The resulting standoff between the couples escalates with every scene, as the inabilities of each to acknowledge the sensitivities and touchstones of the other leads them to cross lines they normally wouldn’t even consider.

Zacarias’ delicate hand allows her to address tough questions of sexism, classism, ageism, and racism without preaching. The laughs flow freely while still touching on the testy issues of old versus new, the entitled versus the deserving, the privileged versus those struggling for achievement. It’s a wild and funny ride.

DC Theatre Scene called the play “Laugh out-loud comedy…”. The Twin Cities Pioneer Press said it’s “a Carol Burnett sketch with a message…the laughs flow freely.” And the Chicago Tribune called it “…a warm-centered and empathetic piece.”

“Native Gardens” runs Tuesdays through Saturdays through April 7th. All curtains are at 8 pm. Tickets are available at redbarntheatre.com/tickets or by calling 305-296-9911.

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