Berkshire on Stage

by Emily Edelman

Dorset Theatre Festival’s production of “Native Gardens” by Karen Zacarías deals with the serious topics of racial discrimination, environmentalism, ageism, class issues and more in an easily accessible and funny way by framing them against a property dispute among neighbors.

Young Latinx couple Tania and Pablo Del Valle move into a house next door to the older and white Virginia and Frank Butley, whose pristinely manicured flower beds are the exact opposite of the native pollinator garden the Del Valles want to create in their own backyard. It was fascinating to watch Maribel Martinez as Tania and Sally Wingert as Virginia dance around each other in a mix of passive aggression and attempts at understanding—the timing in their verbal sparring matches was perfect. Orlando Javier Hernández’s affable Pablo was complex in his own struggles, and Tom Aulino as stressed-out gardener Frank had the play’s best comic moments.

The set, divided in two to represent the backyards belonging to the Del Valles and the Butleys, had issues that were difficult to ignore, among them the large tree in the Del Valles’ yard. Though referred to numerous times in the play as an oak, the tree on set very obviously was not an oak; additionally, the leaves on its branches were dry and brittle, giving the appearance that the neighboring lots existed in different seasons.

Director Tatyana-Marie Carlo has developed her characters well and given them many poignant interactions, but there were also times when the actors were simply standing around talking or explaining, which is not very interesting to watch. Carolina Ortiz Herrera’s lighting was very well done, making the transitions in the narrative to different times of day perfectly obvious.

Though a comedy, there’s lots to think about in here — the play’s treatment of hot-button issues is relatable in its presentation, and helped along by sympathetic acting and production values.

The Dorset Theatre Festival presents “Native Gardens” by Karen Zacarías, directed by Tatyana-Marie Carlo. Cast: Maribel Martinez, Orlando Javier Hernández, Sally Wingert, Tom Aulino, Arturo Puentes, Jaime José Hernández. Scenic designer: Rodrigo Escalante. Costume designer: Amada Downing Carney. Lighting designer: Carolina Ortiz Herrera. Sound designer: Germán Martínez. Casting director: Judy Bowman, CSA. Associate director: Rachel Ropella. Production stage manager: Avery Trunko. https://dorsettheatrefestival.org/