“When They Speak of Rita” has enough emotional turmoil and excitement to make the play worth watching.
Mesas Apolliad Theater presents “When They Speak of Rita,” a play written by Daisy Foote; daughter of the prolific, Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Horton Foote, is about a story of a woman who is tired of the mundane activities of a housewife, and is struggling to find her place in the world.
Rita Potter, played by Mesas own Tammy Valdovinos, starts off as an atypical mom, wanting her son Warren Potter, played by David Melendez, to go to college and make something of himself, something that she regrets never doing.
Rita is married to underachieving, and pessimistic Asa Potter, played by Dominick Nunes, who fails to show support to his wife’s ambitions, but is ecstatic for his sons Warrens dreams of opening up his own shop in the garage. Warren wants his girlfriend Jeannie Lowell, played by Deepti Kingra, to forget her scholarship and help him realize his dreams while putting her goals aside.
Throughout the play, Rita is treated as more of a house servant than a person. She’s unfulfilled by her daily life, so to bring some light into the situation she buys a book detailing everything there is to know about catering. She decided she wants to open up her own bakery called, “Delectable Edibles by Rita.”
This part is endearing because many mothers live their lives forever this way, unfulfilled and not having a life of their own, or a job they’re passionate about. Rita is wise for trying to change her life around as soon as she can.
The minute her son Warren see the book, he immediately tell her to return it, and get angry at her proclaiming that “How dare she have a dream other than house cleaning!” That she should be focusing on what he wants and what he needs to get his shop up and running successfully.
The expression on Ritas face as her own son isn’t showing support is saddening, and she’s getting more doubtful about her attempts at happiness.
Unexpectedly, she finds her escape with Warren’s friend Jimmy Reeves, played by Edgar Yudkevich.
The script was very well written and the plot was entertaining. The gender roles are obvious in this play: the man’s needs are always met before the woman’s needs. It’s a traditional viewpoint that still stands in some homes.
The actors were well casted; Deepti Kingra was convincing as the supported girlfriend, peacekeeper and eventual homemaker. Her smooth transitions and emotional reactions were on point, and her character convincing. Tammy Valdovinos’ role as Rita, the desperate housewife who’s seeking personal happiness and identity was also great. Tammy’s facial expressions and ability to keep her cool when the picture frame fell unexpectedly off the wall by saying, “I swear this house is falling apart,” shows genuine talent and ease on the set.
Not to mention the costumes were representational as to how people would dress in rural New Hampshire during Winter: they were appropriate to each persons’ character.