L to R: Gabriel Alejandro, Cristina Sanchez, Nicole Halmos, and Matthew Pauli. Photo by DJ Corey Photography.
Acclaimed DC playwright Karen Zacarias’s “Native Gardens” has been well produced in regional and community theatres across the country—with good reason. While on its surface, this is the simple story of a backyard feud gone wrong, the play possesses numerous layers revealing both the tragic flaws and also the heroic qualities inherent in the human condition. “Native Gardens” paints humankind as knee-jerk reactionaries willing to fight at any cost to preserve what is theirs. At the same time, the play’s resounding commentary is that people are fundamentally good, driven by an overriding desire for peace and friendship. In other words, the play shows people as they truly are, in all of their different lights, especially when the gardening gloves come off.
…a feel-good production…the incredible cast makes this show sing…perhaps the best ensemble performance I have seen all season.
Latinx couple Pablo (Gabriel Alejandro) and a very pregnant Tania (Cristina Sanchez) have just moved into a fixer upper located next door to decades-long DC residents Virginia (Nicole Halmos) and Frank (Matthew Pauli). All seems copacetic at first, until…isn’t that how it often goes with neighbors? Good feelings all around until some small mishap or, in this case, a tale of two garden ideologies, all but eviscerates those good feelings. We are constantly reminded that Frank has spent many many years perfecting his garden in the hopes of finally winning the Potomac Horticulture Society’s annual garden-off, garden throwdown, garden royale—something along those lines. Adorned with flowers that are decidedly non-native species, Frank’s garden is his baby. Tania is firmly invested in creating a sustainable, eco-friendly native garden populated by plants endemic to the mid-Atlantic. This is just the tip of the azalea bush as the construction of Pablo and Tania’s new fence poses some serious property line problems.
There are plenty of neighborly hijinks throughout culminating in a final showdown that sees Virginia come bursting through the bushes wielding a chainsaw with as much vim and dexterity as a highly caffeinated, albeit far more lovable, Leatherface. The play is all about the comedy and about the heartfelt messages that attend these slapstick moments. “Native” versus “immigrant” plants, with an ironic twist of positioning here, makes the takeaway is quite powerful. There is room for everyone and every plant, in some form or another. Ultimately, this is a feel-good production that cleverly transcends even its own social and cultural revelations at times.
In NextStop Theatre’s iteration of this play under the direction of Elena Velasco (of whom I am becoming a huge fan this season), the incredible cast makes this show sing. Halmos as Virginia or “Ginny” perfectly depicts privilege tempered by its own awareness of itself. Her moments of sweetness and likability are well matched by her more condescending and also raucous moments. She is the complete package in this one. As the devoted horticulturist with a penchant for European plants, Pauli’s Frank is deliciously quirky and so much fun to watch. As Pablo, Alejandro plays a young father-to-be trying to balance his need to live up to a masculinized American dream with his better-thinking self—and that better-thinking self is his wife, Tania. Portraying the ultra-passionate expectant mother, Sanchez shows her willingness to go all in. This cast comprises perhaps the best ensemble performance I have seen all season. Given the tremendous theatre that DC has put out so far this season, that is saying a lot.
Set design was spot-on for this play in this venue. You felt as if you were truly in the backyards of these two bickering couples as designer Jack Golden brought his garden A-game. Complemented by Hailey LaRoe’s lighting and Janice Rivera’s sound design, the look, feel, and overall ambiance of the set was expertly executed. I am also now a big fan of NextStop Theatre. Zacarias’s play is absolutely the perfect one for this world moment. After seeing this production (which I highly recommend), you’ll know exactly why.
Running Time: One hour and 30 minutes with no intermission.
“Native Gardens” runs through February 16, 2025 at NextStop Theatre Company, 269 Sunset Park Drive, Herndon, VA 20170. For more information and to purchase tickets, please go online.
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