A new one-woman, multiple-character, original play, Cuban Chicken Soup: When There's No More Café" stars Elena Maria Garcia at Zoetic Stage. (Photo by Morgan Sophia)
Once again, South Florida performer Elena Maria Garcia and Zoetic Stage Artistic Director Stuart Meltzer have local live theater audience members belly laughing. This time, the pair is presenting a new one-woman, multiple-character play. Its title is "Cuban Chicken Soup: When There's No More Café."
The laughs are plentiful and come quickly in the new piece, which Garcia, the lone performer, co-wrote with Meltzer. The world premiere production by Zoetic Stage is onstage through Sunday, May 19 in a polished and energetic production in the intimate Carnival Studio Theater within the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County.
If you enjoyed the pair's previous one-woman, multi-character play, "Fuacata!: Or, a Latina's Guide to Surviving the Universe," chances are you will laugh and relish this sequel. Fortunately, you don't have to be familiar with the first play to value the sequel; it's not perfect, but it can stand on its own.
Throughout the roughly 90-minute, intermission-less "Cuban Chicken Soup," Elena Maria Garcia, slips in and out of more than a dozen characters with ease. (Photo by Morgan Sophia)
Throughout the roughly 90-minute, intermission-less "Cuban Chicken Soup," Garcia, who resembles actress Mercedes Ruehl, slips in and out of more than a dozen characters with ease.
The dark-haired performer with wide, dark, expressive eyes, charms, screams, whispers, gestures, spins, dances, and twists her face into several comic expressions. In addition, Garcia, clad in all black, modulates her voice to believably sound like everyone from an elderly lady to a confident politician and a formal Maitre D. It all looks and sounds effortless.
Meltzer, who directed the production, wisely moves Garcia around the stage to ensure variety and, along with the performer, demonstrates deft comic timing. In addition, the pacing is near perfect.
You may recognize several characters from "Fuacata!," which Garcia and Meltzer co-wrote in 2016. That play received its world premiere in 2017 at Zoetic Stage and a regional production at Actors' Playhouse in Coral Gables in 2021.
"Fuacata" is a Spanish word that basically means a back-handed slap designed to capture the receiver's attention.
"You know, life gives you a good backhand every now and then," a character named Monica says in that play. And, in the end, what matters most is how we respond to life's figurative fuacatas, Garcia and Meltzer seem to say.
Like the original, "Cuban Chicken Soup: When There's No More Cafe" carries the feel of a combined sitcom, stand-up comedy special, play, and improv exercise.
Several characters from "Fuacata!," which received its world premiere in 2017 at Zoetic Stage and a regional production at Actors' Playhouse in Coral Gables in 2021 return in "Cuban Chicken Soup." (Photo by Morgan Sophia)
As is true in the first play, Garcia mainly portrays a woman also named Elena. Mostly, she plans big events such as parties.
When "Cuban Chicken Soup" begins, a decade has passed since the events in "Fuacata!" The time is the present. Elena may be a planner, but she is hardly prepared for the figurative fuacata that her husband, Javier, throws at her. The couple are about to eat at a stylish Miami restaurant when Elena's hubby of 27 years suddenly tells her he wants a divorce. Frankly, it's never clear why.
While Javier's declaration shocks Elena, don't fret; she's a strong woman with a sharp sense of humor who clearly does not let life's hard times crush her. You can knock her down, but you can't easily knock her out. Further, she has a slew of support people to help her through this rough time.
If you saw the first play, you know that Elena relies on her daily cup of "café" or coffee, in English, to energize her. This time, she doesn't have coffee. It might have benefited the play for us to learn why. Is there suddenly a shortage of coffee in South Florida?
Regarding the titular soup, Elena's mother feeds it to her daughter toward the end of the play, presumably to make her feel better. After all, chicken soup is America's ultimate comfort food.
"To make chicken soup, you fill a pot with water," Elena's mother explains. "Water is life. In this pot, you add onion, carrots, potatoes, malanga, yuca, calabaza…These vegetables are like the sun."
"Mami, that's a hell of a presentation," Elena responds. "You sound like a telenovela cooking show."
The writing team behind "Fuacata!" and "Cuban Chicken Soup," Elena Maria Garcia and Stuart Meltzer. (Photo by Morgan Sophia)
The play isn't always as wholesome. In fact, the play's vulgar language is a source of humor. Consider:
Elena: You're a sneaky a-----e.
Sheva, Sheva Goldberg: Hello?
Elena: Hello?
Sheva, Sheva Goldberg: Is this Elena Plans Big Things?
Elena: Yes.
Sheva, Sheva Goldberg: Is this Elena?
Elena: Yes.
Sheva, Sheva Goldberg: This is Sheva, Sheva Goldberg.
Elena: Mrs. Goldberg I'm deeply sorry about-
Sheva, Sheva Goldberg: Honey, you have nothing to be sorry about. I work with sneaky a------s and c----suckers all day.
You can't help but laugh as she says the vulgar words so sweetly and sincerely.
Other attempts at humor are equally effective.
For instance, a pregnant character says, "Listen, I gotta go, this baby's literally doing Brazilian jujitsu on my small intestine."
Generally, Garcia and Meltzer have fun with topics such as aging and Miami's traffic problem. Also, the play carries a female empowerment vibe. And while the play doesn't delve into politics, the writers have included a shot at a reviled politician.
"In a world full of Marjorie Taylor Greens, be an Audrey (Hepburn)," a male character advises Elena.
Elena Maria Garcia stars in the follow up to Zoetic Stage's original one-person show "Fuacata!" (Photo by Morgan Sophia)
In addition to strong writing and acting, the production's behind-the-scenes artists excel as well. For example, scenic designer Natasha Hernandez (the set construction is by B.A.R. Scenic) has created a bright, visually appealing, spacious area. It's a Deco set that gives off a tropical vibe. In fact, if you look closely enough, you'll see the word "fuacata." The space becomes different locales with the help of simple set pieces and props.
Meanwhile, Becky Montero's shifting lighting adds energy and variety to the proceedings. In addition, sound designer Matt Corey has created realistic sound effects.
After presenting a fine production of the dark, cautionary Kander and Ebb musical, "Cabaret," Zoetic Stage has just the light-hearted comic treat that we need in "Cuban Chicken Soup." It's a nice end to a varied and successful 2023-24 season for Zoetic Stage.
While references to South Florida may delight mainly local audiences, "Cuban Chicken Soup" features enough universal appeal to successfully play elsewhere. Here's hoping that it enjoys a long theatrical life.
IF YOU GO
- WHAT: Zoetic Stage Company's world premiere production of "Cuban Chicken Soup: When There's No More Café."
- WHEN: Through Sunday, May 19. Showtimes are at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, and 2:30 p.m. weekends.
- TICKETS: Go to www.arshtcenter.org or www.zoeticstage.org.
