Displaying items by tag: Aja Alcazar

It’s still fairly early in the evening. At this point, the turkey is in the oven, and Jane and Luna are each a couple sips into their bottle of wine. Conversation is nervous. The two women still do not know each other too well, and while Luna is ready with her conversation starters, Jane remains more hesitant. They don’t quite know where to sit, and while they can tell the other feels awkward, neither knows how to comfort the other.

Then, the subject of music comes up. Not only do they both enjoy disco, but it becomes clear that they both love to dance. Luna runs to get the radio and upon finding the right station, the entire mood shifts. Luna begins a dance step – inviting Jane to follow. Then it’s Jane’s turn to lead, and the two continue to switch off – each inviting the other to meet their level of silliness and joy. As the two laugh and dance, it becomes clear they finally found the push they needed. Now that the ice is broken, a friendship can truly blossom. The audience at this performance was laughing right alongside the actors – making it clear that the fun was spreading and we as witnesses were ready to see this friendship succeed.

Written by Lloyd Suh, The Heart Sellers takes place on Thanksgiving of 1973 – inspired by the Immigration Act of 1965 (or the Hart-Celler Act). Luna (Aja Alcazar) and Jane (Seoyoung Park) are recent immigrants, having moved to the United States with their husbands who are forever busy with their residencies at the hospital. Alone on this holiday, Luna invites Jane on a whim to her apartment – where they share a bottle of wine and attempt to cook a frozen turkey. Over the course of the story, we witness these strangers begin to bond. While the conversations begin hesitantly, the two slowly open up. As they slowly transition from conversations about their workaholic husbands to deeper reveals of dreams and hopes for the future, you might just find it’s impossible not to lean in and share that joy alongside them.

Skillfully directed by Helen Young, the production is intimate and full of good humor. Young’s artistic team does a stellar job extending that charming energy throughout the theater. Scenic Designer John Culbert welcomes the audience into Luna’s small, colorful apartment. With the close-knit feel of Northlight’s space, it’s hard not to feel like you are in the apartment alongside the women – which is certainly ideal for a two-hander like Suh’s play.

At its heart, this is a story about a blossoming friendship, and the artistic team focuses their designs on highlighting the women at the center – making it easy to enjoy the genuine chemistry between these two talented actors. As much as this production is full of warmth, the story carries its heavier moments – particularly as the women discuss their challenges around coming to a new country and leaving their families behind. Alcazar and Park move through these ups and downs with grace, creating an emotional roller coaster that you might find sneaks up on you as you realize how invested you are in the story. 

Standout performances and a moving script alone make The Heart Sellers an enjoyable evening at the theater. Given the current backdrop that currently lives in our country, you might also find that this Suh’s exploration of an important moment for immigration also makes the production a potent and relevant one.

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The Heart Sellers runs through February 23 at Northlight Theatre – 9501 Skokie Boulevard. See the Northlight Theatre website for more information regarding tickets.