JOSÉ RIVERA’S MARISOL

When I drop my wings, all hell’s going to break loose.
Soon you’re not going to recognize the world, so get yourself some power,
Marisol, whatever you do!

BOOM! New York is under siege. Normally, this would be just another day in the city, but this time the threat is coming from above. God needs a break, and the rebellious angels are demanding new leadership. Caught in the middle of the celestial uprising is Marisol Pérez (Jade Santana), a 26-year-old Puerto Rican copywriter at a publishing company. She is neither for nor against the war, merely an unwilling observer trying to make sense of the chaos unfolding around her.

José Rivera wrote the Obie Award-winning Marisol in 1993, yet its themes feel remarkably relevant today. The play foreshadows an apocalyptic society where neighborhoods crumble into rubble, people lose touch with reality, homelessness is criminalized, and coffee is outlawed. Oh, hell no! Along the way, audiences meet eccentric figures who embody the world’s unraveling.

After work, Marisol returns home exhausted and crawls into bed, only to be rudely awakened by her arguing neighbors, Sandy (Carmella Jenkins) and her allegedly unfaithful boyfriend. Suddenly, a sophisticatedly dressed Angel (Taylor Scott) appears before her bearing an ominous warning. Confused and frightened, Marisol wakes with a litany of questions, the most pressing being whether she is dead. The Angel assures her that she is not but explains that a revolt against God is underway. Worse, the Angel can no longer protect her. She is leaving to join the battle against a “senile” God who has abandoned the world. Forced to fend for herself, Marisol suddenly finds herself isolated and vulnerable in a rapidly changing reality.

Seeking comfort, she visits her friend and co-worker June (Grace Soens) in Brooklyn. June welcomes her and explains that her brother, Lenny (Jack Sharpe), lives with her. Having harbored a fascination with Marisol for years, Lenny is eager to meet her. His awkward mannerisms and slow speech immediately signal that he is different. However, the encounter quickly takes a disturbing turn when he unexpectedly lunges toward the women with a knife. June immediately throws him out but soon regrets her decision. Not long afterward, she invites Marisol to move in, convinced that together they can “survive the millennium.”

Among them is the Woman in Furs, wonderfully portrayed by Barbara Lee Bragg (The Bear Republic). She is a wealthy and snobbish socialite, arguably a precursor to today’s “Karen,” who finds herself arrested for exceeding her credit limit. Equally memorable is the Man with Ice Cream, excellently played by Chima Rok, who is still waiting for payment from his role in the 1976 film Taxi Driver. In one of the play’s more bizarre moments, he attacks Marisol with a vanilla soft serve.

Rivera wastes no time plunging audiences into a surreal vision of New York City. What begins as an ordinary subway ride quickly spirals into a nightmare as guardian angels disappear, the moon vanishes, and divine order collapses.
Jade Santana (Amerika) delivers a powerful and commanding performance as Marisol.

She skillfully balances toughness with vulnerability, portraying a resilient Bronx woman thrust into an adventure she never asked for. As the reluctant heroine, Santana convincingly guides Marisol’s transformation from frightened survivor to a symbol of endurance and hope amid overwhelming chaos.

As Lenny, Jack Sharpe (Blood at the Root) delivers an unsettling performance that balances vulnerability with menace. His disturbing obsession with Marisol creates many of the production’s most tense and memorable moments.

Matthew Goodrich (Brownstone) shines as the Man with Golf Club, launching the action with intensity as he storms through the subway swinging his club while lamenting that his angel has abandoned him. He embodies a person desperate to reclaim purpose in a world devoid of guidance. Meanwhile, Hutchins Foster (Diversions and Delights) delivers a haunting performance as the Man with Scar Tissue. Searching for pieces of his missing skin, his grotesque appearance serves as a disturbing reminder of a world abandoned by divine protection.

Providing much of the production’s comic relief is Chima Rok (BOTH). Though his role as the Subway Conductor is brief, he leaves a lasting impression as the eccentric Man with Ice Cream, whose obsession with receiving recognition for his appearance in Taxi Driver adds humor amid the darkness.

Bragg is equally effective as the Woman in Furs, capturing both arrogance and absurdity as a wealthy socialite arrested for overspending. Taylor Scott brings elegance and gravity to the role of the Angel, serving as both messenger and catalyst for Marisol’s journey toward survival.
Open Fist Theatre Company has built a reputation for producing bold, unconventional works that challenge audiences while embracing theatrical risk. Their acclaimed production of Bat Boy: The Musical demonstrated that commitment to inventive storytelling, balancing humor, heart, and social commentary. Many of the actors from that excellent performance like Foster, Jenkins, Rok and Soens, appear in Marisol. Open Fist once again proves its willingness to push beyond traditional theatrical boundaries.
Under Amanda Weier’s imaginative direction, Marisol becomes a haunting and thought-provoking theatrical experience. Combining dark humor, apocalyptic imagery, and strong performances, the production successfully captures the chaos and uncertainty of a world on the brink of collapse. Visually compelling and emotionally engaging, it is a memorable evening of theater that lingers long after the final curtain falls.

WHAT: Marisol
WHEN: Now until Saturday, October 24th, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 4 p.m.
WHERE: Atwater Village Theatre located at, 3269 Casitas Ave in Los Angeles. Free parking in the ATX (Atwater Crossing) lot one block south of the theater.
TICKETS: $26-$40
RESERVATIONS: Call 323-882-6912 or visit www.openfist.org
SHOW RUN TIME: 2 and a half hours (Including a 10-minute intermission)