Interludes

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Jorge Ignacio Cortiñas’ enigmatic RECENT ALIEN ABDUCTIONS is tonally uneven, but it got under my skin

• By drediman
• March 10, 2019
• No Comments

Rafael Sardina in the Play Company’s production of “Recent Alien Abductions” by Jorge Ignacio Cortiñas at the Walkerspace Theater. Photo by Julieta Cervantes.

This week I caught PlayCo’s production of Jorge Ignacio Cortiñas’ new play Recent Alien Abductions at the Walkerspace in Soho. The mysterious, delicate play tells the story of a young man named Alvaro who alienates himself, out of necessity, from the personal tragedy that befalls him (no spoilers here). It also tells the story of his family and friends back in Puerto Rico, who play a central role in Alvaro’s painful childhood and his eventual decision to leave his homeland for New York.

Although the play is performed without an intermission, Recent Alien Abductions is divided into three discrete acts. The play is bookended by two enigmatic segments that startled me with their haunting depiction of trauma. However, it’s the act that’s sandwiched in between that I found problematic – it’s clunky attempt at naturalism bizarrely falls flat (but perhaps I am missing something here?). Indeed, Mr. Cortiñas’ play and his production (he also directed the piece) feel much more at ease when they’re untethered to reality. Despite the play’s tonal unevenness, I find Mr. Cortiñas to be a compelling new voice, and I look forward to seeing him develop as a theater artist.

As mentioned, Mr. Cortiñas has directed his own play. He casts a carefully wrought spell from the get-go, creating a menacing mood that’s mostly sustained throughout. Even though the play’s second “act” doesn’t quite jive with the production’s distancing, almost creepy atmosphere, the piece’s final set of images really got under my skin. The cast does an admirable job of giving inscrutable, deadpan performances – aligning themselves with Mr. Cortiñas’ specific vision for Recent Alien Abductions – particularly Rafael Sardina’s unnerving work as Alvaro.

RECOMMENDED

RECENT ALIEN ABDUCTIONS
Off-Broadway, Play
The Play Company at the Walkerspace Theater
1 hour, 30 minutes (without an intermission)
Through March 24