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DEpartments • theater

Night Shift In the Heart of the Amazon

Adapted from the 1973 Mario Vargas Llosa novel of the same name, Repertorio Español’s presentation of Pantaleón y las visitadoras gives this socio-military farce a contemporary twist, thanks to a score written by Columbian musician Andrés Cabas.

Pantaleón Pantoja is a by-the-book Peruvian army captain called before his superiors to handle an embarrassing situation taking place at a remote military post in the jungle. The local female population is being assailed and impregnated by the troops stationed in Iquitos. Due to Pantoja’s lack of vices and scandal, he is deemed just the man to handle this delicate situation. Not quite sure how to approach this unique assignment, he nonetheless accepts his orders and arrives with his caffeinated wife and coddling mother in tow. After being greeted with hostility by that division’s commanding officer and chaplain, Pantoja visits the local brothels and uses his typically hyper-efficient and analytical approach to form a division of ladies of the night (“visitors”) to service the needs of the overly amorous troops. Given the secrecy involved with all this, problems ensue on the home front, particularly once Pantoja finds himself smitten by one of his subordinates.
Starring telenovela heartthrob Anthony Alvarez as the title character, this production is a tightly run presentation whose excellent cast makes up for a bare bones stage design that manages to do so much with so little. Set changes are accomplished quickly and cleverly, whether it’s a small contingent of the cast using a gray sheet and some convincing improv to replicate going down the Amazon on a small boat, or how often the theater aisles serve as an extension of the stage. Pacing is brisk, double entendres overflow and the mood is unsurprisingly ribald, especially considering the inclusion of hilarious songs like La pinga loca and Supermarket.
Alvarez, whose portrayal of an anal-retentive officer fighting an inner battle between his sense of duty and his libido is note perfect, has excellent chemistry with Zulema Clares, who plays wife Pochita with a physical manner reminiscent of Carol Burnett. And while there’s not a false note to be found amid this fabulously talented company, certain cast members stand out. As Pantoja’s right-hand man Lieutenant Bacacorzo, Modesto Lacen provides perfect comic relief with his exaggerated mannerisms and silly disguises. Other cast members shine, particularly those playing dual characters. Monica Perez-Brandes convincingly goes from playing Pantoja’s rigid mother, Mrs. Leonor, to the naughtily flirtatious call girl, Chuchupe. And while Ricardo Barber, a 28-year veteran of Repertorio Español, is a revelation as the self-righteous chaplain Father Beltran and the cheeky brothel manager Porfirio, former Puerto Rican Miss Universe Denise Quiñones is a nice surprise as love interest, La Brasileña. A knockout amid a cast whose looks are above average to begin with, Quiñones doesn’t rely on her beauty but instead hits the ideal balance of coquette and kept woman despite the considerably small amount of stage time her character has.
Author Mario Vargas Llosa did an excellent job skewering the dichotomy of salvation and sensuality endemic to such a heavily Roman Catholic country like Peru, as well as the oxymoron term military intelligence can be. Repertorio Español does a stellar job reflecting that on the small stage.
As of this writing, the show is scheduled to run through early February 2010. Check the performance schedule on www.repertorio.org.