Politics, Mythology a Potent Mix in ‘Bocon!’ at Barnsdall Park

Central American mythology, political reality and a child’s fears are potent elements in “Bocon!” the Mark Taper Forum Improvisational Theatre Project’s latest play for young people at Barnsdall Art Park’s Gallery Theatre in Hollywood.

Unlike last year’s delicate “The Bear That Wasn’t” that played best in small spaces, “Bocon!” has the same large scope of the company’s internationally acclaimed “One Thousand Cranes” of two years ago. Children’s theater doesn’t get much better than this.

Told as a fable, with humor and fairy-tale magic, Lisa Loomer’s script, directed by Peter C. Brosius, has a forceful authenticity--it was researched through conversations with many child and adult refugees from El Salvador.

Miguel (Armando Molina), a young boy known in his village as a storyteller, a bocon (big mouth), loses his voice in terror when soldiers make his parents “disappear.” To save himself, he flees north toward “the City of Angels.”

Along the way, able to communicate only through the rich chords of his guitar, Miguel searches for his voice--and his freedom. He meets Kiki El Loco, an old man who dances to the Earth’s music. Then he is aided by the legendary La Llarona (Alma Martinez), the spirit of a woman who killed her own children to save them from a tragic fate.

To regain his voice he confronts the Voice Keeper (James Tyrone-Wallace II), a chilling figure, and two monstrous, multiheaded guard dogs at the Palace of the General. The Voice Keeper imprisons the voices because they “whisper, they lie about the General.”

He meets an old woman (Karen Maruyama) who gathers voices trapped in seashells--Miguel finds his own, but it vanishes again when more soldiers come. La Llarona croons him to sleep with a poignant lullaby; he dreams of his parents and of the nightmarish General.

Reaching the border, he is caught by immigration officials, but finds he has the voice to tell a skeptical judge his story and the story of his people.

All the elements here are top notch: Brosius’ sensitive, purposeful direction; the cast, also including Irma “Cui Cui” Rangel and Lucy Rodriguez; the dreamlike, shadowy set by Victoria Petrovich; Lydia Tanji’s vibrant, witty costumes; Miguel Delgado’s muscular choreography and the evocative music by Ara Tokatlian and percussionist John Fitzgerald.

Alfredo Calderon’s stunning mask designs are memorably haunting and humorous.

At 4800 Hollywood Blvd. in Hollywood through April 15, Saturdays at 11 a.m., followed by workshops. Free. (Opens May 10 at the Mark Taper Forum for six performances; tickets: $3-$20.) (213) 972-7373.