TACO TOWN – Written by Luke Sorge; Directed by Len Matheo. Produced by Miners Alley Playhouse (1100 Miners Alley, Golden) through September 15. Tickets available at 303-935-3044 or MinersAlley.com.
You’ve all seen those plays about backstage hijinks. About how the leads are all lovey-dovey on stage or in front of a mic but won’t speak to each other backstage. How jealousies create turmoil and romance can spoil working relationships. Well, transport that glamorous (joke!) world to “backstage” at a fast-food drive-through taco joint, and you’ll get the picture of where we’re starting in TACO TOWN.
Let’s start with the Kushner of the bunch. Daddy bought Dustin into the company and now he’s managing multiple Taco Towns. But still manages to find his way into a little creative bookkeeping to personally benefit. Yet he “can’t afford” to give his underpaid and overworked employees a raise or medical benefits. He has seduced one employee and openly flirts with another. Brett Mack is a convincing heart-breaking charmer.
His female employees start with Kym, the titular “manager” whose personal life is a mess, about to get messier. She’s smart enough to figure out that there’s something wonky going on with the bookkeeping, but not quite larcenous enough to work it to her advantage. Always late, always apologizing, Kym (played by Maya Ferrario) lives under the fear of losing her job. But offered a way out, she chooses wisely.
Paola Miranda as Tessa is the street kid – tough, no nonsense, calculating, bold, “roll the dice” kind of woman. The audience loves her smart mouth, the provocative way she swings her silky hair, the “almost but not quite” way she flirts with men (including cops). She could be the head of the school district or the chief of police if she wanted it, but here she is – hollering out the drive-through window, creating chaos and then smoothing it out. She’s the one you want next to you in a dark alley.
Then there’s Earth Mother Trudy, the pacifier, the “bend over backwards” loyal employee seething inside but hiding it. She will “cheerfully” tackle the cleanup jobs no one else will do and automatically cleans a table three times when no one has used it yet. She’s probably watching her neighbor’s kids, baking cupcakes for the school potluck, and mowing the yard before she comes into work. But push her the wrong way and she will show you her favorite finger.
The men on the team are equally fed up but semi-helpless in making working conditions better. Jysten Atom (who is in every show in town this year) as Roddy is the steady rock of the workers. He’s on time; he understands the dynamics of his fellow workers but likes them all anyway. He should be managing his own Taco Town store by now. His frustration causes him to raise the flag of rebellion with enthusiasm.
And finally, there is Isaac the Timid (played with sweetness by Ethan Hoover). He harbors a not-so-secret crush on Tessa but can’t match her in boldness. He will carry her train but, if needed, stand in front of her if bullets start flying. He appears to have no hidden agenda except to do his job and please Tessa. Whatever that means.
Together this crew goes from hardworking taco makers to rebellious, police defying, rabble rousing rebels. What started the whole thing? Sorry, can’t remember. But is it fun to watch it escalate, become misunderstood, create a hostage situation with Dustin tied to a chair and rolled in and out of the walk-in freezer as “negotiations” proceed? Oh, yes!! A small event triggers a crescendo of hurt, that grows into a wave of anger, that morphs into an outright tsunami. Then common sense, reality and fear flows in and everyone takes another look at what they have done. But, oh, my goodness, what a ride!!
The production team, as always, under the reliable leadership of Production Manager Jonathan Scott-McKean, creates a believable kitchen and seating area for this adventure, complete with prep areas and a deep fryer. It was way too clean to be a “real” kitchen, but that Roddy! He keeps everything neat and tidy. Designed by Xander Claypool, built and painted by a crew of seven worker bees, dressed and propped by Samantha Piel, it would certainly pass muster by anyone who had worked at Taco Bell. Crystal McKenzie created worker aprons for everyone and the director, Len Matheo, pitched in on the music and sound effects that made the whole thing come alive.
A short drive to Golden will land you in TACO TOWN, and you won’t regret it.
A WOW factor of 8:50!