Native Gardens is a play that tries to be relevant, to reflect the issues raised by age, privilege, race and ethnicity. And to some extent, it succeeds. The script by Karen Zacarias tells the story of two couples (one white and older, one “ethnic”) and their gardens, one formal and carefully tended, the other aiming to be a “native garden” with wildflowers and weeds. You may be able to guess which garden is tended (or not) by which couple. It's a human story with some humor but not as much as the audience reaction would suggest on opening night.
Theatre Evolve stages the 2019 play, directed by Moises Diaz, in one of the smaller spaces at the Den Theatre. It’s summer and the audience views the backyards of two houses, one owned by Virginia and Frank Butley (Suzy Krueckeberg and Chuck Munro), the other by the new residents, Tania and Pablo Del Valle (Emely Cuestas and Rio Soliz Ragazzone).
Both couples are professionals. Frank consults from home; Ginny is an engineer for an aerospace company. Pablo is a junior lawyer (hoping to make partner soon) at a respected law firm and the very pregnant Tania is finishing her PhD dissertation in anthropology.
As the play opens, Tania is working in their yard when Pablo comes home from work and surprises her with the fact that his whole office is coming for a barbecue this coming Saturday. Tania quickly (too quickly, perhaps) recovers from shock and they begin planning an event that will help his status at the firm.
The Butleys welcome the Del Valles to their backyard table. The conversation covers the Butley garden (Frank’s obsession) and the nature of the Del Valles’ wildflower and weed garden. The Butleys ask their neighbors to cut down the majestic oak tree that shades their yard (and drops acorns in his) but Tania and Pablo fiercely disagree. Both couples do agree that the chain link fence that divides their yards should be replaced by something more attractive.
Pablo and Tania shock them when they say the fence will be replaced this week because they are having a large group from Pablo’s law firm for a barbecue the coming weekend.
The nature of their problem, and the play’s conflict, arises when Tania and Pablo measure their yard for the fencing according to a printed plan of their lot. They discover that their lot is actually two feet wider than they had thought, which means the Butleys’ yard is two feet narrower—and Frank’s cherished flower beds are in the Del Valle yard.
After that, the temperature of the plot rises and so do the vocal levels of the characters as they shout at each other across the back yards. Director Diaz does a good job with pacing and character development in Native Gardens up until then, but he needs to tone down the volume, which is annoyingly loud for the small theater space.
The opening night audience verged on rowdy. Much of the audience seemed to think they were watching the comedy act on another Den Theatre stage. To be sure, there are some funny moments in Native Gardens, but every line is not a laugh line.
The capable performances of the four actors are supported by a crew of anonymous extras who silently complete yard measurement and fencing for the Del Valles. The backyard setting (design by Jeff Brain) has a realistic domestic look, enhanced by Ruby Lowe’s lighting and Anna Rachel Troy’s props. Sound design with accompanying music is by Daniella Brown. Costumes are by Dinorah Guillen. Gabrielle Owens is stage manager.
Native Gardens by Theatre Evolve continues until July 18 at the Den Theatre’s second floor Crosby Stage. Running time is 90 minutes with no intermission. Tickets (pay what you can) and more information are available on the Den Theatre website.
For more information on this and other productions, see theatreinchicago.com.
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