Poster designed by Miles Najera
The art of theater is one that holds many facets and styles, and is very much alive. From the grandiose art of musicals to the evocative landscape of drama, there is no limit to the realm of theater. Premiering on October 9th of 2015 at the Ruby Theater at the Complex in Hollywood is Band of the Storm, a comedy presented in two acts. As part of Los Angeles Theater Festival, the logline for Band of the Storm is, "during a hurricane, a well intentioned building manager becomes trapped inside an aging Florida condo with a tenant who refuses to evacuate."
Written and directed by the multi-talented Joseph Mauceri, this two-act play features only two lead actors, with a total cast of four, whose performances are powerful enough to keep the audience thoroughly entertained. Tomas Pais plays Oscar Fuentes, a Cuban-American family man with a kind heart who attempts to evacuate his stubborn tenant before a hurricane hits. Jonathan Coogan plays Max Milstein, a retired New York City police officer who lives alone, spending his days watching television and drinking brandy. Sweeping through the scene is Shanice Antonia who plays an abstract manifestation of the hurricane as she fervently dances beneath a strobe light with a silky shawl that undulates like sheets of rainfall. Antonia remerges in the final scene with Brooklyn Robinson (who plays Little Maria) for a brief moment as Silvia, Oscar Fuentes' wife.
Photo by Jay Thompson
A matinee preview of Band of the Storm was showcased for friends, family and press on October 4 and was well received by the audience. A small and intimate theater, The Ruby Theater was filled with chuckles and laughter which was even incessant at times. Coogan completely nailed the part of Max Milstein, a brandy-sipping, hard-ass Jewish New Yorker with so many yarns to spin he could knit a full suit. Pais encompasses the archetypal family man who is gold-hearted and pure, yet will make any sacrifice necessary if it will benefit his family. His Cuban-American descent complete with full Cuban accent also adds to the social landscape of the Floridian lifestyle.
Mauceri possesses the gift of writing dialogue as well as character development, especially in the character of Max Milstein. With the help of Coogan's performance, the audience is instantly engaged with the familiar character who is one we have met in many films, series and books before. Mauceri elegantly weaves the tale of Milstein's past into the play creating a colorful tapestry of his life. The rapport between Coogan and Pais is tangible as the two completely opposing personalities from opposite ends of the human spectrum (and country) begin their lives as parallel and then intersect briefly through perilous circumstances before becoming parallel again. A classic tale of union in times of strife, these characters find common ground during the impending and unknown doom the hurricane may or may not wreak upon their lives.
I am thoroughly impressed with Mauceri's ability to write humor, one of the most difficult (and highest paid) endeavors. His knack for dialogue flows nicely making the audience feel as if they were truly just voyeurs peering into Milstein's condo. The chemistry between characters was present and will only strengthen with time. Entertaining, comical, heartfelt and even slightly suspenseful at times, Band of the Storm is just the beginning of Mauceri's career as a playwright.