When somebody important in your life passes away, how many times have you wanted one more opportunity to talk with them? That’s part of the premise of José Rivera’s new play The Untranslatable Secrets of Nikki Corona which is now playing at the Geffen Playhouse through October 7th.
In Rivera’s play a company named A Better Orpheus provides a service where Nikki (Onahoua Rodriguez) is put in touch with Orlando (Ricardo Chavira.) Orlando is dying at a young age and with his ultimate passing she hopes that he can pass on some final thoughts to her sister. When they begin to fall in love only time will tell if her message will get to her sister and whether love has the ability to transcend death.
Not only does it appear that the Orpheus myth is an inspiration here, but so is Dante’s Inferno.
Jo Bonney directs this production which also features Cate Scott Campbell, Zilah Mendoza and Juan Francisco Villa.
In addition to his Oscar-nominated screenplay for The Motorcycle Diaries, Rivera has written 26 plays.
Photo of Cate Scott Campbell and Ricardo Chavira from this production by Darrett Sanders
