Jose Rivera’s ‘Old Century’ Lingers On . . . and On

With its inviting porch and lobby, the new 99-seat Greenway Court Theatre, on the campus of Fairfax High School, is remarkably homey and hospitable--very haimish, to use a familiar Fairfax district word. But the venue’s first production, “Sonnets for an Old Century,” is less appealing.

Playwright Jose Rivera strung together monologues for 24 actors. Along with flimsy connective tissue and an intermission, this “Old Century” lasts three hours. That’s about two hours too long.

The premise is that these are recently dead people who have entered an anteroom of the afterlife. Before they move on to whatever awaits them, they’re expected to take center stage--a round platform that’s more brightly lighted than the murky wings--and make a statement drawn from their lives.

After nearly everyone onstage speaks, the show breaks for intermission with one character refusing to budge--or to make a statement. One hopes that this might presage a touch of narrative variety in the second act.

But no, as soon as the show resumes, a second batch of fresh faces arrives to go through the same procedure all over again. The first-act holdout finally has his say, but his words aren’t different in dramatic function from any of the others.

What, exactly, is that function? Sad to say, the whole production appears to exist primarily as a long set of audition pieces, primarily for actors, secondarily for Rivera. It’s clear that Rivera is a gifted writer, and that some of these actors are very good--for example, Steven Ruge as a tourist visiting Hollywood with his son.

It’s also clear that Rivera has kept the chaff in with the wheat and that a few of the actors are woefully inexperienced. No matter the quality of individual moments, it doesn’t add up to much of anything.

James Eric’s theater design is far more accomplished than his direction of this particular show. We look forward to seeing something here that doesn’t shout out “showcase.”

* “Sonnets for an Old Century,” Greenway Court, Fairfax High School, 544 N. Fairfax Ave., Thursdays-Saturdays, 8 p.m. Ends Feb. 26. $15. (323) 655-TKTS. Running time: 3 hours.