‘Asylum’ Keenly Tells of Problems Faced by Refugees

As the plight of detained refugees seeking political asylum in the U.S. takes center stage at 2100 Square Feet, finely delineated performances and Diana Castle’s crisp, polished staging overcome some predictable heart-string tugs in “Asylum,” Kara Hartzler’s new comedy-drama about flawed INS deportation policies.

Based on her real-life experiences as a paralegal counseling detainees at the Texas border, Hartzler’s play excels at keenly observed details that resonate with authenticity. Hartzler’s alter ego, Leah (Jamie Farmer Ebersole), is a naive 22-year-old volunteer who grows up fast, coping with the international menagerie that comprises her caseload.

The uniformly strong cast transcends the other-ness of these prisoners, whose status as noncitizens deprives them of the most basic freedoms and legal safeguards.

Giving personal faces to statistics in the best theatrical tradition are Daniel (Sammie Wayne IV), an articulate Nigerian engineer apprehended while working in a fast-food eatery; Ranjit (Mueen J. Ahmad), a womanizing Hindu; Julieta (Elizabeth Liang), a tough-as-nails Cuban; Alberto (Eduardo Antonio Garcia), a runaway Honduran soldier; and Rosa (Monica Hidrovo), a shy Guatemalan rape victim. Under the resentful eye of a guard (Richard Retes) protective of his own citizenship, they parade through Leah’s office seeking the limited assistance she can provide.

Though introduced in the most sympathetic terms, the prisoners are not above play-acting and outright deception--tactics encouraged by the system itself, as trusting Leah learns to poignant effect.

In a pivotal crisis showcasing Ebersole’s finesse, Leah confronts the innate hollowness of her crusader impulse, and the reality that for these nonpersons justice is not only blind but indifferent.

BE THERE

“Asylum,” 2100 Square Feet, 5615 San Vicente Blvd., Los Angeles. Fridays, Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 7 p.m. Ends March 28. $15. (323) 936-6818. Running time: 2 hours.