July 1 2010

We arrived five minutes late. After security questioned each other about letting us in, an older man gave the approving nod and we were ushered down a spiral staircase into a pitch black theater. I could see a women dressed as a panda, another man in Geisha garb and another man – short, shifty-eyed and looking like a martial arts metal-head (above) – playing out a scene.

This was the ensemble for El Extraño Caso De Tai Chi y Te Chai. It’s a satiric play based on a true story about two men in China who stole from a bank to buy lottery tickets. They intended to win – of course – and become millionaires. Once they recovered their millions, they were intent on giving back the money and keeping the profits. Unfortunately, hubris, ignorance and a huge fit of bad luck ruined their plan. The play closes out its five-month stint at Foro La Gruta next Thursday night at 8:30pm…sharp.