Theater Review
While we believe that immigrants are the lifeblood of a vital and diverse population and recall with pride the success of generations of newcomers who have defined our country from its birth, we should not forget the hardships and disappointments that so many endured.
Lisa Phillips Visca’s play “Raise Me Up,” ostensibly a Romeo and Juliet love story—she’s Greek, he’s Italian—captures the fears and social and cultural disorientation among recent immigrants. Modeling the action on the real-life story of her own parents, Louis and Daphne Padula, Visca mirrors the hostility between these two groups adapting to a new life in America while trying to hold onto their ethnic values.
Framed as a flashback, the play opens with the older Padulas, who were in real life longtime Palisadians, reflecting on their long marriage and their first encounter. They meet on the Staten Island ferry and the flame is ignited. But circumstances prevent an easy courtship. As Louis presses on despite his parents’ objections, the first dinner in his home is an explosive affair. His dad announces his intention to sell his business, which throws his mother into a fury as she imagines the family falling into destitution.
When it’s time for the Greek family to host Louis, similar hostilities arise. Daphne’s father, played by the wonderful Stuart Pankin, forbids his daughter to date Louis, having chosen a self-absorbed but rich young Greek American for her.
The plot bends and winds around until reaching the inevitable happy ending. Visca offers a dose of humor along with the high spirits of these two explosive families.
The young Padulas, played by Michael Marinaccio and Serena Dolinsky, make a lovely couple, believable in their romance. Louis’ brother, Johnny (Mitch Lerner) offers a punchy counterpoint to the earnest Louis. He is all swagger and boast, but lovable.
Louis’s parents Jerry (John Del Regno) and a fiery Josephine (Lenora May) and Daphne’s parents Chronis (Pankin) and Anna (Evelyn Rudie) portray their cultural biases, albeit a bit exaggerated.
While minimal, the set (James Cooper) and costumes (Ashley Hayes) convey the 1950’s era of rising postwar possibility. Anna and Daphne, mother and daughter, are stylishly dressed and eager to embrace the new reality.
“Raise Me Up,” directed by Chris DeCarlo, plays through May 19 at the Santa Monica Playhouse, 1211 Fourth St. For tickets, call (310 394-0779, ext. 1) or visit santamonicaplayhouse.com.
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