(OUTview NW) RE-view: Artswest's "My Mañana Comes” proves 'Straight' Contemporary Drama Still Exists!

(Brunk)

by MK Scott

And now something completely different! After a month of seeing Rock Musicals, Classics and Homoerotic Productions, I then was asked to review Elizabeth Irwin’s working-stiff drama “My Mañana Comes” currently at Seattle's Artswest Playhouse, and the best I can sum up is a play similar to The FLICK, the NCTC's (and Gregory Award Nominated)  production of 3 workers at an old movie house that we reviewed this past March. The difference in My Mañana  is that this time it depicts 4 men working as bus boys at an upper class Italian restaurant in Manhattan dealing with class, but also dealing with the American Dream.

Fortunately, this play is a 90 min. ONE Act and as with FLICK, the months go by as does the repetitiveness of the duties of the working class.


Speaking of the FLICK, the leader of this group is Peter, played by Tyler Trerise, who played the young and privileged apprentice, "Avery" in the FLICK. Trerise is phenomenal and has showed so much range from his role in FLICK compared to his role as Peter, the only Black worker out of 4 diverse busboys, Peter is struggling living from paycheck to paycheck and dreams of owning his own restaurant.

(Brunk)

The 3 other guys have different motives, NY Native of  Puerto Rican decent, Whalid (Joshua Chessin-Yudin) wants enough money to Party with Girls while Pepe (Chris Rodriguez) wants the American Dream but can't afford to live in the big city and Jorge (Santino Garcia) wants to send money home to his family, Garcia's Jorge is the center of the play and the heart of the group.

When the (Un-seen) Bosses start to threaten to lay-off workers, the action really starts when 2 US citizens (Peter and Whalid) team up to oust the 2 immigrants with threats of calling the INS. No Friendship is lost, and it is for the battle of survival in a Man eat man world.


As I mentioned, it goes at a snails pace at the beginning but gets better at the end. Also it would be great if it had sub-tiles, like their Chinglish production they did last March, that would help with translation during the Spanish speaking scenes and a few of the deep accents that I had trouble understanding.

Of course I was hoping and waiting for what I am used to seeing lately with the homo eroticism and there were a few times I would have liked to see Pepe and Jorge lock lips or fall in love. But, that doesn't happen. This Time!

‘My Mañana Comes’ directed by Matthew Wright continues through Nov. 22 at ArtsWest Playhouse is West Seattle. Click HERE for Tix and Info.