Chanticleers Theatre invites audience members to step into village life along the banks of the Amazon for a dark-edged romance with their production of “The River Bride” by Marisela Treviño Orta, playing now in Castro Valley through February 23.
In a small Brazilian fishing village, the Costa family is preparing for a wedding: parents pleased with the upcoming milestone, bride-to-be Belmira eager to leave village life behind for the big city and the world at large, and older sister Helena somberly dragging her feet and heart, as the groom Duarte once was hers.
When a storm strikes three days before the wedding, Señor Costa and Duarte pull in their fishing nets to discover an entangled man with a bandaged head, impeccably dressed in white.
The stranger Moises is welcomed into the Costa home and quickly becomes enamored with Helena, believing she’s the one he’s been searching for—someone who can see past the surface of things. Though not much can be gleaned of his past, all deem him a good man, but Duarte watches with suspicious eyes, wary of possibly being supplanted with Señor Costa, and Helena.
When Moises proposes to Helena with the caveat that they must marry before three days have passed, she recalls the long-told tales about mysterious men appearing in June, and worries about intruding on her sister’s wedding. Helena’s response threatens everyone’s expected paths, and the sister’s personalities and priorities clash as they wrestle with their hearts, dreams and doubts, trying to seize the best possible chance of happiness.
A compact one act, “The River Bride” feels brief, but is engaging and well-paced under the direction of Elio Amador. Set designer Venee Call-Ferrer steals the show with her lush, atmospheric creation; the forested backdrop, hanging flowers and vines framing a layered pier and swirling blue river is immensely inviting—like a magic grotto. David Patino’s sound design is a soothing and harmonious companion with a well-coordinated nature and river life soundtrack.
The cast is pleasant and harmonious, but don’t quite reach the emotional pitch of Orta’s tale,
at times feeling stiff and lacking chemistry. Yesenia Villaseñor as the frothy, self-centered Belmira, and Mikala Slotnick as the guarded, solitary Helena create relatable sibling conflict and are solid contrasting counterparts.
Arsalan Khan is earnest as Moises, but could play up to the mystery of his character, and Shailesh Sivanantham brings focus and intensity to the duty bound Duarte. Larissa Kasian and Ernesto Nery’s Señora and Señor Costa deliver a soft and ideal love, the happy model for those who take a leap of faith.
With its pleasing cultural roots and dark undertones, “The River Bride” offers a change from the usual romantic fare, exploring themes of true love, risk, choice, and duty through a folkloric lens, asking what your answer might be when the call to follow your heart arises.
The River Bride
Feb. 7 – 23
Friday & Saturday: 8pm
Sunday: 2pm
Chanticleers Theatre
3683 Quail Ave., Castro Valley
510.733.5483
Tickets: $10 – $30
