“In my version, this is not only Yerma’s story but also the portrait of a marriage. Yerma and her husband, Juan, are equals who love each other very much, but feel very differently about having children. Yerma won’t dishonor Juan or her family, but the toll her desire takes is significant,” points out Lopez.
That trusty old maxim about good fences making good neighbors leaps to mind — along with a host of recent political headlines — while talking with playwright Karen Zacarías about her comedy “Native Gardens,” opening at Pasadena Playhouse next week.
Ascribed characteristics, creative conflict and family secrets are just a few of the resonant issues Rachel Bonds explores in her work, which is making its world premiere at South Coast Repertory until Oct. 15.
"Something the piece does really effectively is it draws parallels between the characters and allows us to see how similar we are," Barillas said. "It's a wonderful thing to be exploring in the eye of the travel ban, Charlottesville and the Trump era."