There’s nothing quite like a Mexican telenovela (soap opera), and I’m sure nothing anywhere in the world quite like “Destiny of Desire,” a lengthy, crazy, confusing, but most amusing telenovela written for the stage by Karen Zacarías and playing through June 25 on The Old Globe’s Shiley Stage.
Before the plot starts, we see the large cast working out and getting ready for the play. We’re in Bellarica, Mexico.
“You are our live audience, so be ALIVE!” we are advised by a woman who also notifies us that “we are here to change the social order.” Hmm. What could that mean?
We move to a hospital setting, where on a stormy night two women are about to give birth. One will be the child of Armando Castillo (Al Rodrigo), a wealthy casino owner, and his wife Fabiola (Bianca Marroquín). The other will be born into poverty, but because this is a telenovela, the babies will be switched at birth.
The dual-level set is the spot for a series of crazy consequences, full of Iive music (with the musicians on the second level), and wild choreography (by Lorna Ventura) on ground level.
Years go by, and changes are noted in titles given to each episode (such as “Secrets and Lies” “Servants, Sisters and Poets” and “A Surprising Turn of Events”.
Director (and former Tony winner) Ruben Santiago-Hudson keeps the action moving and the laughs unavoidable as the craziness and sometimes ill-fated liaisons play out.
My favorites were handsome James Olives, who plays Armando Castillo’s son Sebastián and Mandy Gonzalez, who plays Hortencia del Rio and sings like an angel.
Don’t go expecting anything to make sense, just listen for the “facts” often cited, like “68% of women say they would have an affair if they knew they would never get caught.” And “In the U.S., 70% of girls have kissed another girl and liked it.”
For my part, I could have lived with a shorter play. This one runs 2 hours, 40 minutes, with one intermission. That’s a pretty long piece of telenovela (or maybe not; I’m no expert on the genre).
But this is an amusing night of theater, there’s no question there.
The details
“Destiny of Desire” plays through June 25, 2023 on the Old Globe Theatre’s Shiley Stage, 1363 Old Globe Way in Balboa Park.
Shows Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m.; Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday at 7 p.m.; matinees Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m.
Tickets: (619) 234-5623 or Tickets@TheOldGlobe.org
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