Review: ‘Native Gardens’ brings the fun of a classic sitcom to the stage

Photo credit: Alexandra Lainfiesta and Kent Allen star in Persephone Theatre’s production of the comedy ‘Native Gardens.’ The show runs until Oct. 6, 2024. (Supplied / Photo courtesy of Jodi Schellenberg, Persephone Theatre)

Matt Olson
September 28, 2024

It’s silly, it’s fun, it’ll make you shake your head in disbelief and laugh out loud at the antics — the season-opening comedy at Persephone Theatre is a quirky delight.

Native Gardens came with all the vibes of an early 2000s sitcom episode or zany comedy movie in Thursday night’s preview show. The plot is appropriately improbable, but just probable enough to incite all the wackiness of the plot: young Latinx couple Pablo (Ed Mendez) and pregnant Tania (Alexandra Lainfiesta) del Valle move into an upscale Washington D.C. neighbourhood next to the older, nearly-retired Virginia (Pamela Haig Bartley) and Frank (Kent Allen) Butley. When the del Valles and and the Butleys agree to replace the old fence between their backyards before the del Valles host a company BBQ for Pablo, they realize the del Valle’s property extends two feet further than the fence line into the Butley’s yard — and Frank’s prized garden.

What follows is a level of hijinks one could expect from an episode of “Seinfeld,” with modern sensibilities and numerous political jokes tossed into the mix. Snark over perceived betrayal (“we brought them wine and chocolate!”), both sides blowing what the other said out of proportion to their spouses and continuous pettiness of tossing fallen leaves, coffee and cigarette butts into each others’ yards all feel pulled straight from television.

Full credit to director Heather Cant and the production team for putting together a great ensemble cast. Lainfiesta and Mendez have fantastic chemistry as a young couple trying to carve their way in the world. Mendez brings levity to the stubborn lawyer Pablo with his characteristic physicality, and Lainfiesta cements herself as the heart of the show as she seemingly feels the most conflict — and the most passion — about their situation.

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