The first two plays in Quiara Alegría Hudes trilogy, Elliot: A Soldier’s Fugue and Water by the Spoonful have already opened. (The first play is on at the Kirk Douglas Theatre and the second is running at the Mark Taper Forum.) Now comes the third play in her trio of plays inspired by her cousin Elliot Ruiz, Happiest Song Plays Last. The official opening is this Thursday at the Los Angeles Theatre Center downtown. This production is from the Latino Theatre Company.
In Happiest Song Plays Last Elliot finds himself starring in an action film. (After all, he did say in Water that he wanted to flash his pearly whites all over Hollywood.) His cousin, Yasmin, finds herself becoming a valuable member to her community’s neediest members. Edward Torres directs this production. The cast includes Vaneh Assadourian, Elisa Bocanegra, Kamal Marayati, Peter Pasco, Al Rodrigo and John Seda-Pitre. The show also features Puerto Rican folk music.
With the opening of Happiest Song Plays Last, theatregoers in Los Angeles have the opportunity to see all three plays in the trilogy. This is the first time all three of Hudes’ plays have been performed at the same time in the same city.