The first time that I saw Blood Wedding was years ago and it was a college production. It left a lasting impression. The acting was hackneyed and the directing was, for lack of a better word, directionless. Needless to say, I wasn’t a fan. However, because the whole experience was so bad, I couldn’t delineate whether I disliked that specific production, the play itself or both. After seeing Odyssey Theatre Ensemble’s production of Blood Wedding, I can confidently say that it’s the play itself that I don’t like because their production is stellar.
John H. Binkley’s set design is sparse yet beautiful, using the interaction of curving lines to paint the backdrop for this poetic tale. Coupled with Derrick McDaniel’s lighting design, the actors are able to easily jump from one location to the next with minimal fuss. What scene changes are needed are handled by the cast and are choreographed by director Jon Lawrence Rivera in such a way that they match the staccatoed poetry of the speech around them.
The ensemble as a whole does an excellent job of carrying the world of the play and making the stylized text sound natural. Sharon Omi as the mother, Jennie Kwan as the wife and Nikki McKenzie as the bride all stand out. While each woman has grievances to bemoan, none succumbs to whining. Omi rages for vengeance, Kwan cajoles for the sake of appearances and McKenzie entreats for what is right. These women live in a world run by men but their every action makes it clear that they yearn for the exact opposite.
Ivan Davila as the servant serves to brighten whatever scene he’s in with his playful enthusiasm. In what is overall a very dour world, Davila carries the torch to lighten the mood for as long as he can. Joshua Zar as Leonardo takes up residency in the opposite camp. If Blood Wedding were a comic strip, Zar would be that character that has a rain cloud constantly following him around. However, the true thunder of his feelings isn’t unleashed until the end, when he and McKenzie share a love scene that is deeply passionate despite maintaining a PG rating.
Rivera has put together an immensely talented cast in a beautiful production for the Odyssey Theatre Ensemble. While I can appreciate the pieces of the whole, the play itself is just not this critic’s particular cup of tea.
