Theater Review : ‘Allende by Pinochet’: New Drama, Age-Old Politics

“Allende by Pinochet,” Guillermo Reyes’ new play premiering at Cypress ‘College, picks up with Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet reflecting on his bloody climb to power.

As Pinochet sits in his study, writing his self-serving memoirs, the presence of President Salvador Allende hangs over the room like an angry ghost refusing to go away. From this opening, Reyes’ historical drama recounts in some detail how the fascist Pinochet deceived, betrayed and eventually deposed the socialist Allende.

It’s a rough narrative and a rough play. Reyes, who was born in Chile and has participated in South Coast Repertory’s Hispanic Playwrights Project, concedes that this is a work in progress. Why else premiere it on a college campus?

“Allende by Pinochet” needs work, that’s clear, but it has potential, if only because Pinochet’s rise is so intriguing as a story of Machiavellian pragmatism mixed with nonchalant barbarity.

In short, it’s a tale of political life in South America and other Third World regions. The facts are familiar, even if you don’t know the details. Allende, with Communist ties and a special affection for Fidel Castro, was elected president of Chile in 1970, but that doesn’t sit well with his right-wing generals, especially Pinochet, who resist his status quo-disrupting reforms.

Reyes presents Allende (Rudy Martinez) as idealistic hero, Pinochet (Howard Patterson) as cynical villain. John F. Kennedy keeps coming to mind with the playwright’s vision of Allende; he’s supposed to be photogenic, charismatic and eloquent, just like J.F.K., but with a “Marxist” brand on his forehead.

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As for Pinochet, it’s no wonder he keeps mentioning his love of Richard M. Nixon. Reyes puts the two in the same bed, reminding us that Pinochet was physically unattractive (like Nixon) and more than willing to break the rules to satisfy his ambition (again, like Nixon).

If Pinochet is a brutal criminal of both the moral and political system, then our own disgraced president is his north-of-the-border mirror image in “Allende by Pinochet.”

The characters are compelling, if only because they’re extremes, doomed to battle while Chile’s social structure crumbles. But Reyes has trouble defining Allende in the way he wants. He’s not nearly as impressive as he should be, and it’s difficult for us to be swayed. And at Cypress, Martinez is ill-suited for the role--the actor is physically ordinary and doesn’t bring enough forcefulness or guile to his portrayal.

Patterson is better, but even his performance feels shallow, just a series of sneers, snide asides and duplicitous double takes. At least Reyes gives us an idea of his motivations, many of which can be traced to his power-gulping wife, Lucila Pinochet Hiriart. She’s a kind of Kmart Lady Macbeth who, in an unintentionally funny passage, demands that the other generals join the coup because their wives are sick of waiting in long lines for food rations. The sarcastic Laura Lossing plays her as if she’s seen too many productions of “Evita.”

On the technical end, director Mark Majarian also borrows from that Tim Rice-Andrew Lloyd Webber musical by projecting archival photographs of Chile’s Sturm und Drang in the streets on a huge screen behind the actors. As with “Evita,” it’s old hat, but still welcome sensory input.

Fred DePontee’s set is minimalist and unobtrusive (just table, chairs and the like to be moved in and out), and Scott Burkhardt’s lighting is sharp, changing from soft to bright to fit the scene.

* “Allende by Pinochet,” Cypress College Studio Theater, 9200 Valley View St., Cypress. Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. Ends May 28. $7. (714) 821-6320. Running time: 1 hour, 55 minutes.

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Howard Patterson: Augusto Pinochet

Laura Lossing: Lucila Pinochet Hiriart

John Bradaric: Col. Prado

Rudy Martinez: Salvador Allende

Cynthia Leavitt; Hortensia Allende

Rebecca Gallegos / Cynthia Ahumada: Beatriz Allende

George R. Alp: General Prats

Sandra Paskus: Sofia Prats

Martin Garcia: General Mendoza

Jeff Hernandez: Admiral Merino

Raymond Reyes: General Leigh

Zandro Finocchiaro: Patricio Aylwin

Christopher E. Ortega: Carlos Altamirano

A Cypress College premiere of Guillermo Reyes’ play. Directed by Mark Majarian. Sets and sound: Fred DePontee. Lighting: Scott Burkhardt. Stage manager: Mark M. Mikawa