The only disappointment in David Michael Sirois' play Secrets of the La Croix is the wasted cranberry sauce that litters the floor in a Thanksgiving food fight amid unraveling secrets and sibling rivalry.
Secrets of the La Croix, which runs one more weekend at the Main Street Playouse, perfectly portrays the tension and dysfunction of families during the holiday season, and every other season between. Playwright and director, Sirois is a two-time Carbonell Award nominee and winner of the Silver Palm Award, and The Steinberg Award. Sirois first penned Secrets of the La Croix while in college over the course of three days. Many of his characters are directly inspired by his own family.
“It's funny, I had some of my family read the character parts and say “this isn't us’,” said Sirois.
Roger La Croix, played by the talented Ben Sandomir, is intent on two things – getting his television to work and keeping his secret under wraps. Sandomir acts as the glaring contrast to his on-stage wife Theresa, played by Jordan Mauro.
Erica Mendez portrays the La Croix's unseen daughter Amber, Dylan Baierlein plays the youngest son, Brad, and the golden child of the La Croix family, Kevin, is played by Kristian Bikic. Fern Katz brings vitality to her role as Claire, the know-it-all grandmother and together, all six members of the La Croix family seem to be competing for title of “most deranged.”
Added to the volatile La Croix mix are neighbors Mickey and Kristen, played by Murphy Hayes and Ashley Chang, and Kevin's college friend Jeffrey, played by Michael Uribe.
The charisma of the characters shine through even the most ill-tempered of them, and while each holds their own secrets and personalities, the dialogue moves in a fluid yet unrehearsed way. The back-and-forth between characters incites familiar laughter within the audience, the honest and comedic portrayal quickly calling to mind the quirks and shortcomings of one's own family.
“You breathe easy when people like these actors come in and just kill it,” said Sirois. “As a writer, once you're done writing you have to let it go into the hands of the actors and trust their instinct. The actors take it to a whole new level.”
While the audience is strung along, eager to finally learn of the pivotal secrets of the La Croix family, perhaps it's the unexpected secrets that are most pivotal to the climax of the play and most enjoyable to witness.
The mysteries of the missing remotes, the seductive next-door neighbor, a wild trip to Florida and concealed SAT scores are all revealed, but not until dinner is served.
Secrets of the La Croix is in its final weekend, Friday, May 16 to Sunday,May 18, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 PM and Sundays at 2:00 PM. Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors (62+), and $18 for students (with current ID) and can be purchased online or at the door. Parking is always free. More information is available on the website www.mainstreetplayers.com or by calling 305-588-3737.