‘Cada Quien Su Vida’ an Ensemble Effort

In offering both English- and Spanish-language versions of its productions, Teatro Nosotros deserves praise for reaching out to wider audiences--an expansive impulse very much in keeping with the spirit of “Cada Quien Su Vida” (To Each His Own Life) and its creator, the late Mexican playwright Luis G. Basurto.

Set in a dive bar on New Year’s Eve, the play is somewhat reminiscent of William Saroyan’s “The Time of Your Life” in its episodic, slice-of-life portraits of down-and-out customers--hookers, pimps, sleazy politicians and hopeless dreamers--and its compassionate affirmations of the good in human nature.

Only four of the 23 Spanish-language cast members have changed, and the piece remains very much an ensemble effort despite individual variances in performance quality. Navigating Gilbert Avila’s original English translation proves slow going at times, with some naturalness and nuance getting lost in the struggle for pronunciation.

* “Cada Quien Su Vida,” Teatro Nosotros, 1314 N. Wilton Place, Hollywood, Fridays, Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 7 p.m. Ends Sept. 18. $10. (213) 465-4167. Running time: 2 hours, 55 minutes.