Hungry For More

Two Sisters and a Piano

The year is 1991. The setting is Havana, Cuba under strict Communist rule. Maria Celia, a famous revolutionary writer and outspoken author, along with her younger pianist sister, Sofia, are currently living under house arrest. The stifling situation is almost a welcome respite for the two sisters, after having shared a tiny prison cell for the past two years. Both Maria Celia and Sofia were arrested and imprisoned for their shared political views, but now they’re confined to the family home. The women aren’t allowed outside their house, except by a circular staircase that leads to the roof. The heat is omnipresent, as is their loneliness and boredom. The only pleasure for these two artistic young women comes from the battered, out-of-tune piano that still remains. And the only other human contact for the two women is a visit each day by a charismatic Cuban military officer, charged with monitoring the sisters. Lieutenant Portuondo is ordered to check in on the women and interrogate them. But eventually the Lieutenant’s visitations become more social and something much more.

This gripping play by Nilo Cruz, the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright of ANNA IN THE TROPICS, is set during the Pan American Games and as Russia has begun to pull out of Cuba. Rumors of change taking place all over the world reach the sisters. The fall of the Soviet Union especially gives Maria Celia hope that the restrictions over Cuban artists will soon be lifted. Antonio, the novelist’s much-adored husband, is living somewhere in exile, but he manages to write to Maria Celia as often as possible. Unfortunately, she learns that the letters are being confiscated by the regime, so she never gets to read them. When Lieutenant Portuondo decides to use her husband’s missives to blackmail Maria Celia, the only request he has is that the attractive author share her stories with him orally. It seems that the Lieutenant has secretly been reading some of Maria Celia’s banned novels and is hungry for more. In return the Lieutenant will read portions of Antonio’s letters aloud to Maria.

Sofia has also grown restless for some excitement in her young life, especially longing for some male companionship. She’s also frustrated by her off-key baby grand, so she hires a piano tuner to come by the house and kill two birds with one stone. When sweet, somewhat nerdy Victor Manuel shows up with his tuning tools, Sofia and the young man become engaged in a flirtation. Since she only has a limited amount of money, the young woman offers to partially pay Victor with a pair of little-worn shoes that belonged to her deceased father. She also invites Victor Manuel for dinner the next night, and an excited Sofia and Maria Celia get dressed up for their first social event in years. But, once again, things don’t go as planned and disappointment becomes the main course.

In Writers Theatre’s captivating production of TWO SISTERS AND A PIANO, nicely staged and guided with sensitivity by award-winning director Lisa Portes, emotions run wild. Cruz’s drama features a continual power struggle between Maria Celia and Lieutenant Portuondo, as well as between Sofia and her older sister. Being cooped up, while the world continues spinning outside their door, would bring anyone to the boiling point. The sisters’ fierce hunger to live life and leave the confines of their house drives the stakes higher with each scene. Over time, the women’s military guardian becomes both repellent and attractive to them. But when attraction turns to passion, and animal lust takes over, all bets are off. But once again a major change takes place in the dynamics of the play.

As always at Writers Theatre, the casting of this production is transcendent. Lovely Andrea San Miguel brings pent-up frustration and desire to her stunning, emotional portrayal of Maria Celia. Enjoyed at Writers Theatre in the role of Celia in their recent musical production of AS YOU LIKE IT, Andrea has been seen at Lookingglass Theatre in CIRCUS QUIXOTE, at Steppenwolf in THE THANKSGIVING PLAY and in many productions at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre. In this production, Ms. San Miguel is both enchanting and mesmerizing as Maria Celia.

Neysha Mendoza Castro absolutely knocks it out of the park as Sofia. Portraying a young woman in her early twenties, who’s itching to return to life in an exciting changing world, Neysha simply seethes with uncontrollable urges and passion. Her character isn’t shy about her hunger for some kind of human companionship. This lovely, eloquent and graceful Puerto Rican actress must be who Nilo Cruz imagined when creating this role.

As Lieutenant Portuondo, Adam Poss returns to Writers Theatre after appearing as the conniving and threatening Krogstad in A DOLL’S HOUSE. He was also seen in Chicago Shakespeare’s MEASURE FOR MEASURE as well as TEDDY FERRARA and 2666 at the Goodman. As the Lieutenant, Mr. Poss begins the play as a similarly frightening force, but, as time passes, we watch the character gradually transform into a far more gentle and generous man. It’s as if, through art, music and literature, Lieutenant Portuondo has morphed into a much more humane being.

Victor Manuel, the reserved young piano tuner who takes a shine to Sofia, is deftly portrayed by Arash Fakhrabadi. Understandably the young craftsman doesn’t expect to encounter the sexual energy displayed by his new client, when Sofia commissions him to come and make adjustments to her piano. But the two young people immediately bond over their love of the arts, creating a relationship that parallels that of the Lieutenant and Maria Celia. Although this is his Writers debut, Arash has been enjoyed in both A CHRISTMAS CAROL and RUST, at the Goodman, and in Nilo Cruz’s ANNA IN THE TROPICS at Remy Bumppo.  

Brian Sidney Bembridge’s expressionistic scenic design depicts a sparsely furnished sun-bleached island house, now devoid of most of the luxuries once enjoyed by the family. The windows look out onto the alluring cerulean sea through tall, louvered shutters. Besides a few remaining pieces of furniture, the main feature of the home is a battered piano. The atmosphere seems hot and humid, thanks to the ambience created by Jason Lynch’s atmospheric lighting design. The sound designed by Andre Pluess radiates with a mixture of music and the exciting voices of life being lived out in the streets. And, once again, Isumi Inaba has designed a wardrobe of well-lived-in costumes for her characters that feel appropriate as Caribbean attire from the 1990’s. 

Despite the great performances given by four terrifically talented actors, all guided by a gifted guest director, TWO SISTERS AND A PIANO may leave some theatergoers wanting more. The political themes in this play, while torn from the headlines, feel less illuminating nowadays than prosaic. Perhaps audiences are simply becoming desensitized to the brand of politics featured in this drama.When the play was first performed in 1998, the political oppression these sisters faced was considered savage and shocking; in today’s world it is, unfortunately, not that unusual anymore. Although it may leave audiences hungry for deeper, Writers Theatre presents a thought-provoking production that’s made even richer by its exquisite staging and fine performances.    

Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

Presented February 26-March 29 by Writers Theatre, 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe, IL.

Tickets are available at the box office, by calling 847-242-6000 or by going to www.writerstheatre.org.

Additional information about this and other area productions can be found by visiting www.theatreinchicago.com.