Scene partners Angelo Rosales and Rocio Ibarra stood together and rehearsed an argument between their characters. In the moment, as the pair intensely channeled Helena and Duarte, Rosales began to cry.
“It was so unexpected,” Rosales said. “We were arguing and just got really into it. I was like ‘I don’t know what’s happening. What is going on?’”
Rosales’ and Ibarra’s creative decisions proved powerful enough to genuinely affect each other’s emotions, eventually leading to what Ibarra said was an authentic performance.
LAPC Theatre presents “The River Bride” as the first Spring 2024 production, directed by Theatre Professor Esdras Toussaint. This romantic drama features musical pieces along with Brazilian folklore influences.
With a cast of six individuals, the play takes the audience through the lives of sisters Helena and Belmira as the pair experience infatuation, jealousy and heartbreak.
Set in a Brazilian fishing town along the Amazon River, the production opens with Helena—portrayed by first-year theatre student Ibarra—feeling apprehensive about Belmira’s wedding.
Although the play has romantic elements sprinkled throughout, at its core, it is about a raw portrayal of complex family dynamics and what moves people, according to Ibarra.
“There’s pain, there’s love and there’s also fear,” Ibarra said. “Every action we make is either fueled by love or fueled by fear, it’s what drives us [along with] their consequences.”
Another recurring theme is taking risks and the ability to overcome them.
Theatre major Rosales, who portrays Duarte, stated that learning to accept the results is a major point.
“I want the audience to take away that at some point you have to take a risk and it can go either way but to be okay with the outcome, to just know ‘Hey I went for it, it didn’t work out and that’s fine,’” Rosales said.
A combination of roles makes the effects seen in the show possible, from set design to lighting and music choices. The stage manager position is especially significant as they are responsible for ensuring the production runs smoothly for all, according to Ibarra and Paez.
“Victoria, the stage manager, and Andrew are all so amazing. They are just so professional,” Ibarra said. “Coming from being in film productions before, I came in with no expectations. They care about the story as much as we do and are very mindful of our time.”
The individual responsible for the show’s creative execution both onstage and offstage is Toussaint.
The cast members remarked how Toussiant’s directing style is unlike any they have experienced previously. They were the most familiar with a tyrannical approach, but Toussaint’s loose reins have allowed them to freely express their characters.
Ibarra recalls a time when the cast was rehearsing scene work together. Directors typically will “block out” a scene, meaning deciding where the actors will travel onstage, but Toussaint encouraged the actors to explore their characters instead.
“Going back to the freedom part of it. I’m asking for blocking situations and he doesn’t tell you, ‘Do this. Do that. Move here.’ He just digs deep into, ‘What is your intention, what would your character do?’” Ibarra said. “He really asks the right questions in order for us to move naturally and authentically.”
“The River Bride” will open at the Dow Arena Theatre on Friday, March 22, and run until Sunday, March 31. Showtimes for Fridays and Saturdays are at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 for students and seniors, and $20 for general admission.
Free parking is located in Lot 6, next to the Performing Arts Building.
LAPC Theatre’s venues are accessible to those with mobile disabilities and hearing impairments.
For additional information or to purchase tickets, call (818) 719-6488, or visit lapctheatre.org to purchase tickets online.
