According to Poet Lauriat “Robert Frost, “good fences make good neighbors.” In his poem, “Mending Wall,” Frost questioned whether it was necessary for people to set boundaries in order to respect and get along with each other. Likewise, but in a more humorous way, “Native Gardens” playwright, Karen Zacrias, illustrates what many homeowners face when moving into an established neighborhood and what it means to be human when faced with a crisis.
Sometimes the scenery is as outstanding as the play. This is the case at Westport Country Playhouse (WCP). The first thing the audience sees upon entering the theatre is the striking, garden scene by set designer and three-time Tony Award Nominee, Anna Louizos. Under the astute direction of Joann M. Hunter, all is peaceful and one can almost smell the roses as the two neighbors first get to know each other.
“Virginia” (Paula Leggett Chase) and “Frank”(Adam Heller) are the older couple who invite their new neighbors, a very pregnant “Tania” (Linedy Genao) and “Pablo” (Anthony Michael Martnez) to have drinks in their backyard. Everything starts off diplomatically, until the two couples realize that they have many cultural and philosophical differences about gardening that need to be worked out before they can live peacefully with each other. Things come to a head when it’s discovered that the fence between the two properties is in the wrong place. After a lot of bickering and legal threats, the miracle of “love” descends and makes peace between the warring neighbors.
This comedy is 90 minutes long without an intermission. For some folks, the escalating shouting may become a bit irritating. On the other hand, if you believe in miracles to solve our world’s current problems, this play might lift your spirits.
