The immigrant experience — with its promises of a new start wrapped in the frightening reality of suspicion from strangers, fear of the unknown and loss of what was left behind — is infused into New City Players’ “1000 Miles.”
The unique drama from South Florida playwright Vanessa Garcia is making its world premiere through Sunday, March 24, at Island City Stage in Wilton Manors, and continues her reputation for thought-provoking plays that mine the intersection of cultures. These include “Sweet Goats and Blueberry Señoritas,” written with poet Richard Blanco, and the successful immersive show, “The Amparo Experience.”
In “1000 Miles,” Garcia presents a dystopian society that may be in the future — or next week — as five characters navigate a world that offers promises that can be snatched away too easily. It also tackles xenophobia, the price of freedom, how surveillance meant to keep us safe can rob us of privacy, and how one’s identity and heritage can be eroded.
Director Elizabeth Price assuredly maneuvers her cast, which draws in the audience in this often interactive production. Members of this solid ensemble all have shown prowess in other productions, but “1000 Miles” gives each a chance to shine.
Solis (played by an insightful Charisma Jolly) arrives in The City, which purports to offer a safe haven for arrivals, following a traumatic crossing of 1,000 miles across the sea from her war-torn country where she had no future. It wasn’t just a hard crossing, tragedies happened that still cause her nightmares.
“Survival was the only thing we cared about. There is no tomorrow when today is in question,” Solis says.
She is hoping The City will be full of possibilities, even though fitting in and finding her place will be problematic. The City is no mecca given the bombings and protests occasionally marring the landscape.
Solis is told she has a few days to find work or she will be sent back. She stumbles into a watch repair shop owned by Peter (a standout Rayner Gabriel), who insists he has no money to pay her. But Solis wears him down, proving she has unusual skills with watches that may bring him customers.
Peter frequents a bar owned by his old friend, Maria (a compassionate Arlette del Toro), who recently hired a new bartender, Viola (an appealing Dayana Morales). Viola has lived in The City for 15 years but is still considered “a new arrival.” They are joined by Peter’s brother, Mark (a striking Daniel Llaca), who has been away for a while working on a marketing project for the government.
Their reactions to living in The City and their relationships with each other form the crux of “1000 Miles.”
The interactive aspect of “1000 Miles” begins as soon as audience members arrive. Guards — played by Tyler Johnson Grimes, Joanna Orrego, Megan DeGraff and Tim Davis (New City Players’ producing artistic director) — check in each person as they arrive to The City.
Then a City Guard (played by Cloudy Nonome in a green poncho) again checks in the arrivals, handing each an envelope with a postcard of The City and its surroundings and an ID badge designating each person as a citizen or refugee. Those categorized as refugees are told when they have to find employment.
In our party of three, one received citizen status, the other two were labeled refugees. One had four days to find a job, the other seven days.
Upon entering the theater, each person also gets a small battery lantern that they will be asked to turn on often during the play. Actors frequently break the fourth wall to speak directly with the audience.
“1000 Miles” has a strong script with sharp dialogue and solid characters. Peter’s job repairing watches works as a persuasive metaphor about the intersection of time — past, present and future. A clock, even one that is broken, becomes a talisman for another character.
But this new work could use a bit more retooling and some trimming, especially the first act.
Price makes the most of Island City’s intimate space, aided by the effective set designed by Shannon Veguilla. There’s Peter’s watch shop, a scaffold that serves myriad scenes, a small bedding area, and Maria’s well-stocked bar, all in muted colors reflecting the situation.
Annabel Herrera’s lighting, Jameelah Bailey’s props and set dressing and Tyler Johnson Grimes’ sound (aided no doubt by the passing Brightline) further set the tone.
The world is full of stories about the immigrant experience, as Garcia illustrates in “1000 Miles.”
IF YOU GO
WHAT: New City Players presents “1000 Miles”
WHEN: Thursdays-Sundays, through March 24, with post-show talkbacks after Sunday performances to explore the play’s themes and process
WHERE: Island City Stage, 2304 N. Dixie Highway, Wilton Manors
COST: $40 for adults; $35 for seniors age 65 and older; $25 for students age 25 and younger with ID; $25 special promotion on Thursdays only
INFORMATION: 954-376-6114; newcityplayers.org/season
A version of this review ran in floridatheateronstage.com.
