This 'Hou$e' has got Herndon talking

From left, Jule Nelson-Duac, Cristina Sanchez and Ixchel Hernandez star in NextStop Theatre's Dream Hou$e/by NextStop

Rather than a "dream house," this becomes a horror house (with some laughs thrown in). 

Dream Hou$e by Eliana Pipes is presented by NextStop Theatre, all about two Latina sisters, Patricia and Julia (Cristina Sanchez and Ixchel Hernandez) who grapple with how to sell their deceased mother's house.

Should they? Will they?

They argue, they embrace, adjust to new family dynamics, and show growing respect and love for each another. 

Into the house steps the glamourous and smiling-between clinched teeth, Tessa (Jule Nelson-Duac), a stereotypical real estate television personality who enthusiastically tells the ladies that she can sell their house for ... are you ready?

Much more than they ever dreamed about!

Millions more than they could ever imagine!

The sisters gasp! They hug! Can this be true?

And Tessa shows them how, in this deepening strange and weird tale.

In the room the silent female movers go (Leela Aviles Dawson, Carianmax Benitez, and Sadie Koopman)  wasting no time "staging" the house for Tessa's television show, while the TV host morphs into a scary, sci-fi character who deliciously coaxes the sisters into...

My! What big teeth she has! The better to gobble you up!

Rather than focusing on the sisters, the script has Tessa increasingly taking center stage and she has no trouble meeting demands nor do the homeowners who, under the direction of Helen Hayes Award winner, Dylan Arredondo, all deliver solid, creditable performances.

Grisele Gonzalez has designed a full set of a home's living area, a warm environment which gradually loses its character and becomes a sterile room, as the movers go about their duties. Rather like Tessa transitions to a monster.

NextStop's values include "encouraging the exploration of new ideas, creative risks, and pushing boundaries to keep theater vibrant and relevant."

And to that, amen, sister: Dream Hou$e achieves its goals and more. 

The creative team includes Ilyana Rose-Davila, costumes; Alberto Segarra, lighting; Jason Dearing, props; Madeline “Mo” Oslejsek, sound; Zavier Taylor, multimedia design.

Also, Katie Ciszek, dramaturg; Sam Rollin, stage manager; Andres Jovel, assistant stage manager.

What:  Dream Hou$e

When: Thursday - Saturday, 8 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday matinees, 2 p.m. Through Oct. 5, 2025

Where: NextStop Theatre Company, 269 Sunset Park Drive, Herndon, VA 20170 in the back right corner of Sunset Business Park, near the intersection of Spring Street/Sunset Hills Road. Right off the Fairfax County Parkway. 

Parking: Park for free in the business park at NextStop's location.

Metro Station: Walk 15 minutes from the Herndon Metro Stop.

Tickets:  $48 (with fee included)

For more information:  703-481-5930 x1; info@nextstoptheatre.org

Duration: 90 mins., no intermission

Ages:  Adult themes and some adult language

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Shakespeare's 'Merry Wives' will show you a good time

From left, Shakespeare Theatre Company's Merry Wives are Mrs. Ford (Felicia Curry, left,) and Mrs. Page (Oneika Phillips) separated by the conniving Falstaff (Jacob Ming-Trent)/by Teresa Castracane

It's a comedy tonight!

And the wildest, funniest contemporary Shakespeare version I have seen, and the crowd roared with me. 

Shakespeare Theatre Company presents the adaptation, Merry Wives by Jocelyn Bioh which she wrote for NYC's 2021 Shakespeare in the Park, all about West African immigrants and cultures in present-day Harlem.

And a boisterous, rowdy lot they are, indeed! 

 

Mr. and Mrs. Ford (Nick Rashad Burroughs and Felicia Curry) own a laundromat while their friends, the Pages (JaBen Early and Oneika Phillips) have a hair salon.

Amidst an elegant setting of a three-story building at a subway stop, the haughty and laughable Falstaff (Jacob Ming-Trent) is hungry for all kinds of treasures and sets his sights on two wealthy women whose possessions he is in need. 

Like many lovers who screw up when more than one is involved, Falstaff is a prime contender. 

"Setting the attractions of my good parts aside, I have no other charms," he says, most assuredly with high confidence he'll succeed in his quests.

Alas, if you can imagine a mixup in Shakespeare: Falstaff sends both of his targets the same love letter!

But, being the savvy sisters they are, Ms. Page and Ms. Ford soon grasp what Falstaff is all about and they plan revenge. Saith Madam Page:  "Wives may be merry, and yet honest too."

Time and again, the wives play tricks on the slobbery, wobbly Falstaff from the laundry room to the hair salon to the woods amidst spectacular sets by Lawrence E. Moten III.

The ladies lean, they twist their bodies and a few words.

Their husbands soon join the party, Mr. Page who says: "I do despise a liar as I do despise one that is false, or as I despise one that is not true" while the jealous Mr. Ford (Mrs. Ford will learn 'em!) claims it is "better three hours too soon than a minute too late." 

Meanwhile, several suitors chase the Pages' daughter, Anne (Peyton Rowe), none more entertaining than the good Dr. Caius (Jordan Barbour) whose exaggerated antics made me laugh often. 

Others in pursuit of the young lass are Fenton and Slender (Latoya Edwards in both roles).

Anne has her favorite, and so did I who could have watched Shaka Zu, an ensemble member, dance the night away. 

Taylor Reynolds directs. Other cast members are Bru Aju, Kelli Blackwell, Rebecca Celeste, Sekou Laidlaw, Craig Wallace, and Tyrone Stanley. 

The artistic team included Ivania Stack, costumes; Jeanette Oi-Suk Yew, lighting; Mikaal Sulaiman, sound; Nikiya Mathis, wigs and hair; Ashleigh King, choreographer; Nadia Guevara, associate director; Laura Smith, production stage manager; 
Jazzy Davis and Stephen Bubniak, assistant stage managers.

Scholars say Shakespeare wrote the Merry Wives of Windsor to answer Queen Elizabeth's request for more of Falstaff, this time in love.  Ms. Bioh's rendition keeps almost all of the original script first published 400 years ago. (Classics last!)

STC will have a special evening on Friday, Sept. 26 at 7:30 pm for guests to "mix, mingle, and be merry" at Harman Hall for Akwaaba Night with the show, cast and cultures.

What: Merry Wives

When:  Through Oct. 5, 2025 at 7:30 p.m. with weekend matinees at 2 p.m.

Where: Harman Hall, Shakespeare Theatre Company, 610 F Street NW. Washington, DC 20004

Tickets: Start at $35

Audience: For adults and mature children 

For more information: Call the Box Office at 202-547-1122, seven days a week, 12 – 6pm. The Box Office windows remain open until curtain time.

Duration:  Almost two hours without intermission 

Metro Stations: Gallery Place, Archives, Metro Center

patricialesli@gmail.com 

GALA's 'Spider Woman' spins a knockout

From left, Rodrigo Pedreira is Valentin and Martin Ruiz is Molina in GALA's Kiss of the Spider Woman/by Daniel Martinez

Spiders can entrap, they can protect, they are patient, and they wait to entrap their snares.

That GALA Hispanic Theatre has brought back its 1994 Kiss of the Spider Woman when its co-founder, Hugh Medrano (1943-2023) earned a Helen Hayes Award for Lead Actor, the first for a Spanish performance in D.C., is no surprise for success realized then certainly means success today.

And outstanding acting by Rodrigo Pedreira and Martin Ruiz, two prisoners who share an Argentine cell in the 1970s, prove it with the 1976 novel by Manuel Puig of the  same title brought to life.

With haunting original music and sound (by Koki Lortkipanidze), Valentin has been imprisoned for revolutionary practices and protests against Argentine’s political regime while Molina is in jail for child abuse.

Their togetherness in the solitary cell creates recognition of common goals and fears while their warming embrace of differences broadens their perspectives and outlooks.

Adding more stress to his dilemma is Molina's desire for Valentin and the undercover spy operation conducted by the government, effectively presented by phone calls and eerie directions echoing in the chamber to Molina, unheard by Valentin.

The setting (by Tony Cisek) is naturally stark and gray - it's a concrete cell, after all -  the environment intensified by Hailey LaRoe's lighting.

At GALA, theatregoers can see this version of Kiss of the Spider Woman in person, in advance of next month's movie premiere with Jennifer Lopez and Diego Luna.

On two screens at either end of the stage GALA presents its version in Spanish with English surtitles.

Jose Luis Arellano directs with assistance from Luz Nicolas. 

Other production team members are Cidney Forkpah, costumes; Tessa Grippaudo, properties; Anson Stevie, technicals; Ilyana Rose-Davila, production manager; Andre Hopfer, makeup and hair; David Peralto, vocals; and Brian Martinez, stage manager.

On September 21, join a talk-back session with Jesse Garcia, public relations manager at Amazon, and Jose Gutierrez, psychologist, both active in human rights and LGBTQ associations.

Through September 26, enjoy Friday night socials in the lobby at Afters at GALA with Latina musicians and karaoke.

What: Kiss of the Spider Woman

When: Thursday through Saturday nights at 8 p.m.; Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. Now through Sept. 28, 2025.

Where: GALA Theatre, 3333 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20010.

Tickets: Start at $25 with discounts available.

Duration: About two hours with a ten-minute intermission.

Ages: For 14 and up, adult themes.

Handicapped accessibility: GALA has four wheelchair accessible spaces and an elevator from the entrance to the lobby and the house.

Metro stations: Columbia Heights is one block from GALA on the Green and Yellow lines. Or, get off Metro at McPherson Square, take a bus up 14th, or, walk two miles from McPherson Square and save money and expend calories! Many places to eat along the way.

Parking: Discounted parking for $4 at Giant's garage around the corner on Park Road with ticket validation in GALA's lobby, and more parking on the street and at the Target's garage also on Park Road NW, between 14th and 16th streets NW.

For more information: Call (202) 234-7174 and/or email info@galatheatre.org

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