Review: CONFESSIONS OF A MEXPATRIATE at Hyde Park Theatre

Samuel is a typical American yuppie who is honestly grateful for the creature comforts his career affords but something is lacking. Incarceration in a corporate-office cubicle structure stifles his growth and eats away at his soul. Petty torments at the hands of his fellow inmates exasperate the situation and yuppiedom becomes increasingly unbearable.

In short, Samuel is spiritually ill yet still healthy enough to know his acute twenty-first century angst is in desperate need of a reboot. Confessions of a Mexpatriate invites us to accompany Samuel on a quest to rediscover any vestige of the true self he suspects remains within, and the ride makes for a charming and delightfully funny play.

One-person shows are not as easy to produce as one might think. They have their own unique challenges and Hyde Park Theatre thrives on challenges. A master of the one-man show, director Ken Webster sculpts each moment with the precision of a surgeon. The play flows along with definitive yet seamless transitions beautifully enhanced by Don Day's light design and Robert S. Fisher's sound design. These elements are presented upon a gorgeously simple set by the ever-amazing Mark Pickell that pleases the eye and provides several settings in one cohesive whole.

Best Actor nominee Mical Trejo shares his naturally warm and engaging persona with Samuel to create an interesting, imperfect and generous character. Trejo's generosity as an actor extends beyond Samuel to several unseen characters, past and present, all of them familiar no matter our own experiences.

An elegant text from playwright Raul Garza paints beautiful and simple pictures of Samuel's discoveries within a complex and overwhelming world. The universe provides Samuel with some perfect moments to savor and he struggles at times to step out of his own way and just allow these moments to unfold. There is nothing more delicious to an actor than a well-written play. Plays like this tend to live long lives and I predict that Garza will prove to be one of the more important playwrights of our time. I was taught that good plays cause us to think. Garza's plays cause us to think, to feel, and in this case, to remember.

This 75-minute production feels more like 25 minutes. It isn't hurried however. Webster gives us ample time to digest the material but move it does and delivers a great deal of bang for your buck.

Confessions of a Mexpatriate runs at 8:00 PM on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, September 20 - October 20, 2018.

Thursdays are Pay What You Can Nights at the door.

For the first four weeks (September 20 - October 13), Friday tickets are $23 and Saturday tickets are $25. For the final weekend (October 18 - 20), Friday tickets are $25 and Saturday tickets are $27.

Tickets are $2 off for students, seniors, military, and Austin Creative Alliance/Austin Film Society members).

Purchase tickets online or call 512-479-PLAY (7529) for reservations. Tickets $20 and $23, available now via buyplaytix.

Hyde Park Theatre is located at: 511 West 43rd Street, Austin, TX, 787

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