Having its west coast premiere at The Fountain Theatre, Brian Quijada‘s Fly Me to the Sun is a unique take on the identity play that incorporates puppetry in a late night TV show format. While it needs some significant dramatic muscle flexed into it throughout to give it more of a definitive shape, it is a hilarious and deeply moving journey into a boy’s efforts to understand more of his Salvadoran heritage in the most imaginative ways.

 When Abuela Julia arrives from El Salvador to live with her family in a Chicago suburb, her grandson learns to see America through his grandmother’s eyes — while also teaching her to enjoy simple American pleasures. Relaying the story in the style of a late-night talk show in which the young BQ is the host and Julia (magically portrayed as a hand puppet) is his special guest, Quijada weaves a beautiful, semi-autobiographical story about the moments that move us and what calls us home.

Running at over 100 minutes, this is largely a tour de force performance by Gerardo Navarro as BQ who exudes an incredible amount of energy and gusto. Noé Cervantes has the more difficult task as his silent brother but matches Navarro’s energy in creating a dynamic kinship between the two. It may seem extremely jarring when Navarro introduces his grandmother as a puppet but it is essential to keep in mind that this is all from a young kid’s perspective in their own attempts to put on a late night TV show. And for the most part, there are so many hilarious elements that work in thoroughly entertaining the audience.

The shtick of the late night television format runs for quite a while though and eventually it overstays its welcome as this goes on for over an hour without much definition and dramatic weight. It was definitely evident for most of the audience members as I can see their attention span waning as did mine. Once BQ gets into his abuela’s past and the tragedies that have happened in her life, the play takes on a whole new definition that jolts a sense of purpose that was badly needed. Perhaps it’s not so much that it needs dramatic tension spread throughout but rather that the earlier parts can be truncated down so that we can get to the point of gravitas sooner. When Navarro transitions into the abuela herself and his BQ character is played out in his own puppet, it is a risky switch that actually pays off without making it feel like a strange Mrs. Doubtfire performance.

There are many visual elements that help create the wonderful late night television world envisioned by a child. That team includes scenic designer Michael Navarro, lighting designer Alison Brummer, sound designer Andrea “Slim” Allmond, and media designer Deja Collins. When the brothers relive their Disneyland experience, particularly the Space Mountain ride, I could not help but grin from ear to the ear at the spot-on recreation of the ride. Tying this all fantastically together is director Raymond O. Caldwell and production stage manager Kimberly Sanchez Garrido. And of course, can’t forget the sick beats and remixes created by Marvin Quijada and playwright Brian Quijada.

I do think there is an incredible play to be had here, once it goes through some more edits and revisions to help sharpen its potential. As it is currently though, it is a play worth watching even if it feels like it overstays its welcome before it kicks into higher gear. Above it all, it is a play that embraces Latino identity and heritage as a necessary strength in a time when such stories need to be amplified now more than ever.

FLY ME TO THE SUN
• Written by Brian Quijada
• Featuring beats and remixes by Marvin Quijada and Brian Quijada
• Directed by Raymond O. Caldwell
• Starring Gerardo Navarro and Noé Cervantes
• Executive Producer Barbara Herman
• Presented by The Fountain Theatre, Raymond O. Caldwell artistic director

WHEN:
Previews: Wednesday, Sept. 3; Thursday, Sept. 4; and Friday, Sept. 5, each at 8 p.m.
Performances: Sept. 6 through Oct.12
• English language performances:
Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays at 8 p.m.; Sundays at 2 p.m.; one Saturday matinee on Oct. 11 at 2 p.m. (dark Monday, Sept. 8 and Monday, Sept. 29)
• Spanish language performances:
Sundays at 7 p.m.: Sept. 14; Sept. 28; Oct. 5
Saturday at 2 p.m.: Oct. 4

WHERE:
The Fountain Theatre
5060 Fountain Ave.
Los Angeles CA 90029
(Fountain at Normandie)

TICKET PRICES:
$25 – $45:
• Premium Seating: $45
• Regular Seating: $40
• Seniors 65 or older: $35 (regular seating only)
• Students: $25 (valid ID required)
• Monday nights: Regular seating ($40) and Pay–What–You–Want (subject to availability)
• Previews: Pay–What–You–Will

PARKING:
• Secure, on-site parking: $5
• Street parking available in the neighborhood north of Fountain Ave.
• No parking after 6 p.m. on Mariposa or Alexandria Avenues south of Fountain Ave.
• Allow extra time to find street parking; make sure to read all parking signs

HOW:
FountainTheatre.com
(323) 663-1525