Cast from Arena Stage’s Destiny of Desire (photo by Tony Powell)

Last evening Candice and I kicked off the 2015/2016 season at Arena Stage with the hilarious Destiny of Desire, a new play by Helen Hayes Award-winning playwright Karen Zacarías.

I haven’t laughed this much in years.

This modern comedy is based on a Latino telenovela, and Zacarías and the cast are pitch perfect in capturing the wild plot twists, overplayed drama, and shirt-ripping passion required by the genre.  The play begins on a dark and stormy night in Mexico, when two newborns are switched in a hospital, and the play gallops along from there for two hours to the entirely predictable, but nonetheless enjoyable, ending.

The all-Latino cast is strong, and the Arena crowd – which is generally stingy with its praise – gave a swift and heartfelt standing ovation.  Candice and I attend 6-8 plays a year at Arena, and I’ve never seen a crowd leave in such good spirits.

This is a rollicking good time.  Even if you’ve never tuned in to a telenovela on Spanish-language television, you’ll quickly pick up the vibe and have a great time.

Recommended!

More to come…

DJB