Review: EL COQUI ESPECTACULAR AND THE BOTTLE OF DOOM: A SUPERHERO PLAY at TRT is an Exciting and Inventive Show

Two River Theater (TRT), under the leadership of Artistic Director John Dias and Managing Director Michael Hurst, is now presenting a captivating world-premiere production, El Coquí Espectacular and the Bottle of Doom: A Superhero Play. Written by Matt Barbot and directed by José Zayas, the show will be performed in TRT's Marion Huber Theater through Sunday February 4. It is a relevant and exciting epic tale that will appeal to a broad audience of theatergoers.

El Coquí Espectácular and the Bottle of Doom has received impressive accolades. It was a finalist in the 2014 Repertorio Español Nuestras Voces competition, and won the Kennedy Center's Darrel Ayers Award for Outstanding Student-Written Play for Young Audiences, as well as the Kennedy Center's Latinidad Award for Outstanding Play Written by a Student of Latino/Hispanic Heritage. It was also a finalist in Repertorio Español's 2013 Nuestras Voces competition.

In the story, Alex, a young Puerto Rican freelance comic book artist, lives with his mother, Patricia in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. His father, a NYC policeman and his hero, was killed in the line of duty. While the family grapples with their loss, Alex creates his own superhero persona, El Coqui Espectacular, a neighborhood protector who fights local thugs like Alex's former schoolmate Junior. El Coqui is named for a Puerto Rican tree frog and Alex's costume includes a folk mask given to him by his dad. El Coqui soon becomes a social media sensation when his escapades are captured and shared by a talented and smart photographer, Yesica. In the meantime, Alex's brother Joe, an advertising executive, is working on a campaign for a Voltage Cola that will be marketed to the Latino community. When he learns about Alex's identity as El Coqui, he pitches the idea of using the superhero for the soda promotion. What starts as Alex's desire to find a sense of purpose soon spins out of control. And with the NYC Puerto Rican Day Parade scheduled, some surprising developments are about to take place. While this story is inventive and entertaining, it also thoughtfully explores issues of ethnic identity, gentrification, and commercialism.

The five member cast of El Coquí Espectacular and the Bottle of Doom are exceptional in their roles. They capture the action, fantasy, heartfelt moments, and humor of the play. The company includes Bradley Tejeda as Alex; Gabriel Diego Hernández as El Chupacabra/Junior; Olivia Negrón as Patricia; Flor De Liz Perez as Yesica; and Cesar J. Rosado as Joe. They are the ideal troupe to bring this show to life.

The Creative Team has done a fabulous job with the colorful, modern setting of the show. The Team includes scenic design by Arnulfo Maldonado; costume design by Ásta Bennie Hostetter; lighting design by Zach Blane; sound design by Jane Shaw, and projections/animation designer Alex Koch. The fight direction is by UnkleDave's Fight-House; the casting is by Jack Doulin + Sharky; the stage manager is Terri K. Kohler.

Audiences will thoroughly enjoy the superhero and comic book themes being portrayed in El Coquí Espectacular and the Bottle of Doom. Gather your group and see it while you can on the Two River Theater stage.

Ticket prices for the show range from $40 to $70, with discounts available for groups, seniors, and U.S. military personnel, their families, and veterans. A limited number of $20 tickets are available for every performance; $20 tickets may be partial view. Tickets for patrons under 30 are $20 and include the best available seats at every performance. Run time is 90 minutes with no intermission and it is recommended for ages 12 and up. Tickets are available from https://www.tworivertheater.org/ or by calling 732.345.1400.

Photo Credit: Richard Termine

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