Fly-Babies, an LOL Experience

It was almost a ROFL type of thing. Pregones did it again. Fly-Babies/Piojos is just fun, fun, fun.

The play basically deals with the trials and tribulations of a well-heeled high society dame, an opera singer nonetheless (Shadia Feiruz, in full control of her charms, acting chops and expertly tuned voice) unable to travel because of a case of lice at her children's uppity high school, located in the uppity east side of Manhattan.

The music, varied and eclectic, as it is Pregones Musical Director Desmar Guevarra's tradition, strings together several high energy musical numbers intelligently placed along a somewhat lineal narrative, a refreshing change from my latests theater going experiences.

In comes the smartest cast of characters in all of Pregones' illustrious history (my humble opinion, so don't argue with me!!!).

The high class lady, too squirm-ish to deal with her embarrassing body lice dilemma; the smart-alecky, business conscious, politically correct Professional Consultant hired to deal with such an emergency (Elise Hernández, what a voice, jeez); and the scientific authority given the task of dealing with the peculiar crisis (Omar Pérez, funny, funny) and more fascinated with the lovely crawlers, as he refers to the microscopic pest, than interested in finding ways to eradicate them.

The results are epic.

Clinging for dear life to the mud flaps of this solid musical false is a hilarious Dominican aspiring actor (Jesús Martinez), getting ready for the part that he hopes will kickstart his career, that of a French king famous for his towering wigs populated by the nastiest vermin in recorded history and for the popularization of the elegant hand-held scratcher.

Also wafting by is the seemingly dislodged story of the book loving "piojosa" (Rosal Colón) taunting the lice-loving scientist, now torn between her poetic raptures of literary quoting (and his) and the sophisticated opera riffs of the lice afflicted singer. Two wasted opportunities for a full arc of a romantic storyline in the history of the theater troop, darn it! Maybe next time (wink, wink, Rosalba).

Hints of a post 911 hysteria, the element of a Brown Alert as a first measure to tackle the "piojos epidemic" (read hyperbole here) does nothing to enhance the play, but places it on a timely and accurate current-state-of-affairs perspective that may date the current showings thus hindering on its timeless appeal and nature.

Well balanced character conflict, good live music and singing, energetic choreography (Tony Vargas, se botó!) and a compelling yet simple story sprinkled with some surprises here and there makes this example of the democratic nature of those little nasties quite a pleasant LOL experience. But, hey, the play is still showing one last weekend, I might go see it again, perhaps it turns out to be an ROFL thing after all.