Written by orange• April 15, 2025• 3:02 am• Costa Mesa, Review, South Coast Repertory, Theater, Uncategorized

World Premiere: You Are Cordially Invited to the End of the World! @ South Coast Repertory – Review

photo credit: Scott Smeltzer

Written by Patrick Chavis

The World Premiere of You Are Cordially Invited to the End of the World is playing now at South Coast Repertory from April 5 to May 3, 2025.

Keiko Greens’ latest play is bold and pivotal, in my estimation. In a brisk hour and forty minutes, it shows us how wonderfully beautiful and complex this world can be with this modern visual feast that resembles an unhinged sitcom with lots and lots of facts and emotions, too. And that’s a fact, Jack.

Story:

You Are Cordially Invited to the End of the World is a familial dramatic comedy about a family experiencing the last year of life with their dying father, Greg (Joel De La Fuente). Greg has stage 4 Cancer and desires to spend the last moments of his life saving the environment, while others in his family grapple with his enviable end and what that all means for them and the universe.

You read the synopsis, a story about the last days of someone’s life and cancer, and it just sounds so depressing. If you’ve lived and known enough people who have died from cancer, it’s devastating. Not a topic I try to visit too often. In that case, the subject matter in this play might be very triggering and painful to watch and experience, so do consider that, as this show does explore some rather difficult topics. I’m a fan of the HBO Series White Lotus; in one of the scenes in the 3rd season in Thailand, the character talks to one of the spiritual characters, and the spiritual character basically says. I’m paraphrasing, but we try to run away from pain, but pain is inevitable in life. At least, that’s what I got from it.

And there’s More:

This resonated with me when I watched this play. I found this piece to be one of those kinds of art that lets us experience these complex topics that, on any given day, we may run from because they’re painful. It’s also beautiful and meaningful for those involved, whether it’s the family in this show who have dealt with the pain of losing the father but also recognize the value he’s had in their lives or the audience member at South Coast Repertory, who might also relate to their predicament and find some catharisis in that. So definitely, a challenging piece but full of life and humour, with relevant subject matter.

Set Design/Direction:

This show uses many theatrical techniques to tell this story but integrates them into the story so smoothly that you might even miss it—for example, the lit sign right behind the character just at the right time. You’ll know exactly what I’m talking about if you see the show. That’s only one of the many moments, whether through set design from Adam Rigg, opening the back of the space to create surrealistic images, or the fantastical costume work from Lux Haac.

Let’s talk about this set design from Adam Rigg, which was out of this world! When you don’t think there’s more going on, there’s just another layer, whether it’s the smog coming from the right side of the stage or the tasteful projections from Nicholas Hussong and the finale—that is the moment.

Acting :

The character Greg is definitely not perfect, and this is shown in spades throughout this play. Still, he may be the perfect dad for M (River Gallo), amongst the pomp and circumstance, which happens to add a bit of theatricality that’s much appreciated. At least for me, the heart of the story is between these two actors, Gallo and Fuente, and they know how to bring on the tears. Gallo provides critical and flawless narration throughout this tale.

Rafael Goldstein’s performance as Will M’s new boyfriend, with comedic and informative moments, didn’t need to do too much to be one of the most memorable characters in the play.

Sharon Omi plays multiple characters: a doctor, an angry neighbor, and a wife worried about her loved one, somehow making them all her own in the same show.

As some of the stories engage with more modern topics, some humor may not resonate as strongly, but its universal themes in the narrative are unmistakable. It’s a riveting new work and well worth a watch.