Force of Nature Productions has been working very hard to find their voice. While just as experimental as their North Hollywood brethren but some how more reserved, they had a bit of work finding their voice. This year, they have found themselves with the lyrical and haunting Fallen Saints – Dia De Los Muertos.
A corner yoga studio suddenly becomes a portal to old Mexico as a member of the cast greets the audience outside. Bearing a simple lantern this fellow in a sarape hands a basket to a selected person in each group, making them the representative of the family, and leads them into the performance space.
Entering the converted dance studio we see four figures standing on blocks at each corner of the room. In the center an altar on which a body rests. We are here to celebrate Dia De Los Muertos or, the Day of the Dead. As one of the most cherished and celebrated holidays in Mexico, this should be a time for families to visit and celebrate the lives of those who have passed yet something is off. A dark secret has been buried with the souls before us and a mystery is set to unfold before us.
A bandoleer saunters around the room picking at a guitar as the room fills and the crisp lighting warms the room with tones of amber and orange. The figures on the stands are the spirits of those who have passed. We soon learn that the figure laying in the center of the room ties each of these lost souls together in a very dark and sinister way.
Much like Force of Nautre’s strong showing at Midsummer Scream, Dia De Los Muertos is an expansion on the story of the extent one woman goes for love. Here, the ensemble plays wonderfully with one another to create a show that is both entertaining and haunting. The crisp lighting design by Vincent Miller and Cara Vilencia is a transcendent achievement for the small company that nimbly sets tone and scene with impressive dexterity. Too, the sound design by Noelle Hoffman and Kristen Maxie is totally on point and equal to what you would find at the best Noho performance spaces.
While the ensemble is, overall, solid, stand out performances come from Gloria Galvan as Peppy, and Michael Guthrie as Antonio.
However, what holds this show together is the lyrical script by FON veteran Andy Schultz and the direction by Schultz and company founder Sebastian Muñoz that polish the work and elevate it to a higher place. We have here a company finding their place in the theatre community of the arts district. Romantic, yet haunting, we have a company that plays hard to its strengths in focusing on heritage, a reserved yet macabre tone, and still, somehow, heart.
This is Force of Nature’s best production to date because they have addressed their weaknesses and played hard to their strong suits. If you are looking for something to do for Halloween that isn’t gory, but is haunting nonetheless, give this show a try.
Buy Your Tickets HERE
