Theatre & Stage reviews by SalsaChicago.com critic Al Bresloff

References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot (thru April 10)

Jose Rivera, a strong force in theater and film today (he wrote the screenplay for "Motorcycle Diaries and the adaptation of Calderon's classic from the Spanish Golden Age," Life Is A Dream-Sueno) has written a fantasy titled" References To Salvador Dali Make Me Hot" which is not playing at Bailiwick Repertory. Under the direction of Sean Graney (artistic Director of The Hypocrites, this is the story of a relationship and how it is affected by war. In this story, it is a hot night in a California desert. Gabriela (the enchanting Marsha Villanueva) dreams that the moon plays the violin while a talking cat (the funny, yet sexy Nicole Adelman) and a talking coyote ( John Byrnes, with just the right touch) dance a dangerous Tango. Gabriela is fending off the advances of her nerdy young neighbor (Ricardo Gamboa) who wants to grow up quickly and wants her to teach him, but Gabriela is waiting for her husband Benito (Ivan Vega, who also plays the "man-in-the-moon, playing the violin) who is returning from Iraq. Once home, the couple find that the war has changed them- that they are no longer what they were and in fact have very little in common. The question is- Is love enough to keep them together? Is sex enough?

This comedy/drama is a dark and sexy fantasia about chemistry between men and women and the way that war changes everyone.There are some very strong moments in this production. Mr. Graney has cast this show well, each actor doing what is needed to bring Mr. Rivera's words and ideas to the audience. Aided by a unique setting designed by Mr. Graney, we go from outside the house to inside, to bedroom with just the turn of partitions (handled by the actors) and the lighting effects designed by Jared Moore make the mood of each scene reach its goals.While there are some slight flaws in the production, they are just that, slight. The dynamics of the actors and the ideas of the writer far outweigh them.

References To Salvador Dali will run at the Bailiwick Repertory located at 1229 W. Belmont through April 10th with performances as follows: Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at 3:30 Tickets for this show are $22-$25 (a true bargain for theater) and can be purchased at the box office by calling 773-883-1090 or online at www.bailiwick.org.