It’s ‘Magica’ : SCR’s Joyous ‘Posada’ Seems Just the Ticket for a Brighter Holiday Season

Octavio Solis’ “La Posada Magica,” in its second annual production at South Coast Repertory, might be just the thing to brighten a season flooded with “Christmas Carols” and “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

There seems to be nothing new to add to a Christmas story, and “Posada” does nothing to dispel that assumption. But it doesn’t matter much, as the story itself is less important than the spirit and the feelings of renewal and well-being that this production inspires. Its depiction of a child who doesn’t believe in Christmas, but who comes back to it with rekindled faith, is ageless and universal.

Set in the present, “La Posada Magica” tells of Gracie (Crissy Guerrero), a 14-year-old still mourning the death of her infant brother Ernesto. She lit candles in the cathedral, said the proper prayers, but he still died, and Christmas no longer has any meaning for her. When her parents go to church on Christmas Eve, she insists on staying home to suffer her sadness.

Then the neighborhood posada arrives at her door. In accordance with tradition that is centuries old, it re-creates the search by Mary and Joseph to find shelter the night before Jesus is born. In this posada, the locals representing the holy family, the Wise Men and the shepherds are lighting candles at each house and collecting blankets and clothes for the poor. They light a candle for Gracie, and she joins the parade.

They don’t realize that her reason for joining is to destroy the posada--which she considers a sham, since her prayers for Ernesto weren’t answered.

The tale of her night of adventures is told by the playwright in a freewheeling style, akin to that of a pageant, cinematic in flow, and full of anachronisms and contemporary references. Jose Cruz Gonzalez has directed the piece in the spirit of a vaudeville turn, brightly underlining the jokes and asides. His tempos are brisk and irresistible.

The acting is in the same spirit, without much depth of character, but that doesn’t matter much either. This is an entertainment, not a play. Guerrero is a wide-eyed Gracie, and that’s enough. Teresa Velarde and Ricardo Salinas play Gracie’s parents, as well as the couple in the posada representing Mary and Joseph, and finally Mary and Joseph themselves, all with affection and warmth.

Michael Archuleta as a school security guard, Edna Alvarez as a beautician and Christine Avila as a flower-shop owner are often funny as members of the posada and in other ensemble roles. Most of the fun and vigor, though, are provided by George Galvan as Horacio and Richard Montoya as Buzzard. Galvan has a grandeur that makes both his serious moments and his flights of humor delicious, and Montoya’s streetwise, irreverent Chicano is an invention of brash, irrepressible, kinetic joy.

Musical director Marcos Loya’s original songs are mostly reminiscent of others, but his song that accompanies the posada on its travels is flavorful and buoyant. Lorenzo Martinez plays guitar with Loya’s trio and is an energetic part of the ensemble.

* “La Posada Magica,” South Coast Repertory Second Stage, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. Tuesdays-Fridays, 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m.; Sundays, noon and 4 p.m. Ends Dec. 24. $16-$24. (714) 957-4033. Running time: 2 hours, 15 minutes.

George Galvan: Horacio

Crissy Guerrero: Gracie

Michael Archuleta: Eli/Lauro/Bones

Teresa Velarde: Mom/Mariluz

Ricardo Salinas: Papi/Josecruz

Richard Montoya: Refugio/Buzzard

Edna Alvarez: Consuelo/Widow

Christine Avila: Caridad/Widow

Lorenzo Martinez: Musician/Ensemble

A South Coast Repertory production of a Christmas allegory by Octavio Solis, directed by Jose Cruz Gonzalez. Musical direction: Marcos Loya. Choreography: Linda Kostalik. Scenic design: Cliff Faulkner. Costume design: Shigeru Yaji. Lighting design: Lonnie Alcaraz. Production manager: Michael Mora. Stage manager: Randall K. Lum.

* MORE HOLIDAY STAGINGS

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