A "Happy" Bradbury Play at the Fremont Theatre

Theatre Review

For an evening of lighthearted "feel-good" entertainment, Ray Bradbury´s original, THE WONDERFUL ICE CREAM SUIT, playing at the Fremont Centre Theatre in South Pasadena, fills the bill.

Thoroughly charming and uplifting, the story follows five young Latino men, living in an East-LA barrio, who envision how their lives would be changed, if only they owned the magnificent vanilla-white suit they´ve seen in a shop window.

Mr. Bradbury dedicates the play to "the real people who lived with me in a tenement in Los Angeles 70 years ago." He considers himself "part of this Hispanic family" and has used their real names in his story.

Gomez (Rudy Rodriguez) first saw the beautiful glowing-white suit in the window of Shumway´s Sunshine Suits a month ago and he got an idea. No way could he afford its $100 price tag, but if he could find a few others to chip in…

For four weeks he´s been looking – and measuring – every young man close to his size. As the play opens, he and Villanazul (Joaquin Garay III) approach the third prospect.

Martinez (Eddie Ruiz) has been mooning over the beautiful Celia (Verona Masongsong) who seems to look right thought him and wishing he had a friend…or two. "Friendship of the poor is real friendship," he sighs.

Gomez whisks out his measuring tape and begins sizing up the startled fellow. Martinez is a perfect fit and after hearing the plan, quickly shells out his last $20. The threesome next locate the ´cool´ Dominguez (Adrian Elizando) in a pool hall. Again the right size!

Along the way, however, they have acquired an annoying hanger-on. He´s the ignored and often pushed aside but persistent, Vamenos (Daniel V. Graulau), who is grubby, clumsy, a bit "slow," and a never-going-to-fit-in-the suit young man.

Gomez is disheartened, fearing they will never get the last $20 before the suit is sold. When Vamenos whips out the money, they try to resist, but eventually their dreams of the wonderful white suit are too much, and they take him on.

A comic scene follows when the five Latinos enter Shumway´s shop. Philip Sokoloff is perfect as the nervous shop owner, fearful that "these hoodlums" are about to rob his store. But he smoothly segues into an able salesman when he learns their true intent and makes the $99.99 deal.

Alone with the suit, the five stare in awe at its glimmering white magic. They choose Gomez, the original "idea man" to wear it first. He is transformed when he dons the suit, and stands tall and confident. And since he has no mirror, he lines up the others to "see himself" in their eyes.

Each in turn lives his fantasy in his half-hour with the suit, becoming the men they wish they were. Until it comes down to Vamenos. How can they let the grimy, graceless hulk wear their precious suit? He will stain it; he will tear it; he will ruin it!

But a deal is a deal.

What happens when they finally allow the oaf to don the magic suit is at once frightening (including a brawl in a dingy bar, hilariously portrayed in stop-action strobe lights) and… wonderful. The truth they ultimately discover will warm the heart long after the play ends.

Kudos to the five young men who performed the leads. Each brought to his role diversity, appeal, and amazing talent.

Diminutive Verona Masongsong as "Celia" and Joy Nash as the Amazon-in-stature-and-heart "Ruby" brought hope and hilarity to the audience as well as to the young men. Andy Sell, Robert Kerr, and Paul Renteria fleshed out the story with equal talent.

Those familiar with Bradbury´s Sci-fi fiction will be surprised and delighted by this jewel of a play and will leave the theatre refreshed and with a spring in their step.

THE WONDERFUL ICE CREAM SUIT plays Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 pm, Sunday´s at 3:00 pm through February 15.

General admission is $20.00, Seniors $15.00. Students, $10.00.

For reservations, call: (323) 960-4451 or visit www.Plays411.com/raybradbury

The theater is located at 1000 Fremont Ave (at El Centro), So. Pasadena, CA 91030. There is plenty of parking behind the theatre.