By Eric George Tauber
SAN DIEGO — Happy Time Capsule Day!
As you enter the lobby of the Lyceum, you may be greeted by Mayor Steve, Beachtown’s hip new mayor -who loves to surf and wears sandals with his powder blue suit- or any one of the charming “Beachtonians.” Unlike other theatre experiences in which ushers guard the stage, we are invited to mill about. Audience members interact in little “get to know ya” games and partake of the dessert potluck. (Fortunately, they had macaroons and “Passover friendly” sponge cake.)
It’s time to go through the time capsule of Beachtown. Every ten years, the trunk is unearthed and the ten items are presented and explained with dramatic little skits played out by the Beachtonians. My personal favorite was the silent-movie melodrama telling the story of the Kumeyaay clay urn.
Each item had special meaning for what happened in Beachtown then, but might not represent who we are now as a community. So one is to be removed and replaced by audience vote. I was waiting for something overtly racist like a minstrel doll or Confederate flag, but such was not the case.
A girl in the audience led us in the Pledge of Allegiance and then we elected another audience member Ombudsperson. On April 1st, an adorable young Marina Hall ran unopposed as the other two bowed out. You just can’t compete with cute.
William BJ Robinson has a charmingly playful energy as the out-loud-and-proud music teacher, Bob Ruby. Clad in striking red boots and bow tie, he leads us in singing the Beachtown Hymn. And Antonio TJ Johnson is larger-than-life as the bombastic, mike-dropping, alt-right, African-American “journalist” Damon Haynes.
The role of the frenetic Councilperson, Benny Ramos-Liebowitz, a “true conservative” who attends synagogue in Tijuana was tailor-made for the high-energy funny man, Salomon Maya.
When the new items are presented, Sandra Ruiz -as the Latina/Native American activist Gloria Ramirez- argues passionately for an immigrant crossing sign showing a family in silhouette dashing across the 8. I remember these signs as this was one of my first culture shocks when I moved to San Diego in ’96.
Jason Heil –who had never surfed before researching this role- waxes with mystical poesy about surfing. And his obvious attraction to town archivist Susan Suhiro –played by the lovely Lee Ann Kim, gives the catty Donna French a little something to gossip about. Actor Marci Wuebben took us all back to our nervous adolescent days at the middle school dance.
But we didn’t just hear from the actors. Audience members are invited to voice their opinions. And those voices spoke with conviction with lines that were genuine and unrehearsed. Hats off to Resident Playwright Herb Siguenza and Rachel Grossman for delivering a night that feels like what theatre was always meant to be, an enriching, thought-provoking community experience. So if you’re tired of Netflix and want something only live theatre can provide, join the conversation in Beachtown playing at the Lyceum Space through April 15, 2018.
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Tauber is a freelance writer who specializes in coverage of the arts. He may be contacted via eric.tauber@sdjewishworld.com
Nice review, Eric! I am going this Friday.