Playwright Nilo Cruz challenges audiences to use their imagination in recreating a tragic love story set in 1939 in a two act drama “Sotto Voce”, running now through February 15 at GableStage in Coral Gables.
Bernadette (actress Sara Morsey) and Ariel Strauss (Gabriell Salgado) are the ill-fated lovers who Bernadette corresponded with when Ariel tried to flee Nazi Germany by sailing with the ill-fated MS Saint Louis German luxury liner by sailing to North America. Unfortunately for Ariel and Bernadette, they never met in Havana, Cuba as they wished because the vessel refused to let him depart from the vessel.
Unfortunately, the MS Saint Louis failed to secure passage for Ariel in both Canada and the United States as many of the passengers (who were mostly Jewish) sailed back to Europe and many of the passengers were killed in The Holocaust during the 1940s. Bernadette never knew if Ariel and his sister Nina (who accompanied Ariel on the ship) died in The Holocaust as Ariel never communicated further with her after 1939.
The play is not set aboard the Ms Saint Louis, but many decades later in 2020. Bernadette is now an aged 80 year old novelist who has put her memories of Ariel in the past. However, she receives an email and phone call that goes unanswered from Saquiel Rafaeli (actor Salgado in a dual role) , a Jewish-Cuban writer who is researching passengers from the MS Saint Louis and specifically wishes to learn from Bernadette all about Ariel Strauss.
Bernadette resists having any contact with Saquiel and refuses any circumstance to meet with him, despite Saquiel’s persistence. Most of act one is about Bernadette refusing to communicate with Saquiel.
As act two opens, Bernadette changes her mind about meeting Saquiel mostly because of the efforts of her assistant Lucia (Claudia Tomas) who sets up Saquiel to communicate with Bernadette. In the process, Lucia and Saquiel meet and fall in love.
The story reached its climax in which Bernadette imagines seeing Ariel again in her imagination as Bernadette is full of vigor and energy and, in Bernadette’s mind, she reconnects with Ariel if only for brief moments.
The “reconnection” of Ariel and Bernadette comes courtesy with the beautiful images of splashing waters of the ocean on a projection screen, thanks to the work of lighting designer Tony Galaska and scenic designer Frank J. Olivia of GableStage.
There is a surprise near the conclusion of the play involving Saquiel that leads to an unexpected conclusion of the play that leaves audiences with much to ponder.
The three actors gave superlative performances, starting with Sara Musey, a veteran actress who was believable in her transformation from the elderly reclusive 80-year-old novelist into a much younger, optimistic and vibrant Bernadette in act two.
Salgado through his persistence with the reclusive Bernadette, was convincing as Saquiel with his soft voice in creating a safe passage for Bernadette to remember her memories with Ariel.
Tomas transformed herself from the meek and mild assistant to taking initiative in bringing Saquiel to Bernadette
Given the unexpected ending to the play, Cruz was also directed “Sotto Voce” and his dual roles is to be congratulated for creating a thoughtful play that is both contemporary and historical.
“Sotto Voce” by playwright Nilo Cruz is running now through February 15 at GableStage, 1200 Anastasia Ave. in Coral Gables. Tickets range from $40-70 and show times are Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evenings at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. For tickets and more information call 305-446-1119 or go to gablestage.org.
