Writing Fragments Home
Charming Premiere of a Boomerang Philippine-American Style
By: Victor Cordell - Apr 26, 2025
Recent generations have witnessed the fragmentation of the traditional nuclear family, with perhaps the most common variation being the boomerang, in which adult children return home, often when the parents had adjusted to being empty nesters. Jeffery Lo’s world premier offers a partial-semi-not-totally autobiographical peek into that world with a play that is screamingly funny, sadly sad, and very interesting in its structure. If this review is shorter than my typical, note that I accepted press tickets from Hillbarn Theatre with the agreement that I wouldn’t review because of many prior commitments. And though this review is delayed because of travel, sometimes you just want to share something even when there is no obligation.
Portrayed by the always effective Jomar Tagatac, Jay is a 40-year-old, longtime wannabe playwright who is dumped by his girlfriend and leaves his unrewarding job in a rage. What to do in that situation when the financial wolf is at the door? Pack your bags and head for home – your childhood home.
Jay is Philippine-American and an only child whose father died when he was a youth. While his mother, Mary Gwen, loves him, she has been very disappointed that he hasn’t pursued a stable career, particularly in nursing like her, which is a major point of friction. And as sloppy as Jay is, his mother is correspondingly neat. A common flash point in boomerang arrangements like this is that the child has been independent for years and used to making decisions, but the parent may want the child to abide by the parent’s rules as a price for returning to the nest.
Mary Gwen is so insistent that Jay not become comfortable with this return engagement that she won’t allow him to use his old bedroom, but rather requires that he sleep on the living room couch. Jen Cuevas is remarkable as the determined Mary Gwen, with exquisite comic timing as she cajoles and badgers Jay with tough love. Even when Jay tries to make good, like by cooking pancit, Philippine noodles, for dinner, the two share a laugh when she asks that he not cook it again.
But the play’s special spirit derives when Jay’s new writing results in two actors materializing from the ether, playing out his thoughts. But unlike private dreams, Mary Gwen can also see the actors and realize how hackneyed Jay’s ideas are, like representing a couple fulfilling each other by having them place opposing arms up together. Brigitte Losey and Jamiel St. John as the actors are as funny as a gaggle of goofy ghosts on laughing gas. And add to the ethereal mix, Jay’s deceased father, Ronaldo, played by an always smiling and empathetic Jepoy Ramos, who offers guidance to the anchorless Jay.
The dynamics of a parent-child relationship like this, even when the latter is an adult, will resonate with most of us. A parent often has goals for a child that the offspring doesn’t share. The parent’s disappointment then can irritate the child who seeks agency. Conversely, a child is often oblivious or dismissive of the sacrifices the parent makes in offering better opportunities for the youth. In fact, Jay’s parents had come to the U.S. to offer a better life for him. Yet, to manage his cognitive dissonance, Jay embraces the idea that they left the Philippines because it was not good for them, which wasn’t the case. The playwright’s situations and characterizations are highly relatable and will have many audience members laughing and crying alternately.
Director Reed Flores extracts crackling humor from the cast. Meanwhile, the production values soar, highlighted by Christopher Fitzer’s scenic design and Pamila Gray’s lighting. Playwright Jeffrey Lo is a local product with many notable directorial accomplishments. It would not be unreasonable to have serious reservations about the worth of a locally produced play written by a hometown hero, but in this case, no apologies are necessary. This script gets high marks for an appealing storyline with crackling dialog and fully developed characters, and the production lives up to the quality of the narrative.
Writing Fragments Home, written by Jeffrey Lo, is a world premiere produced by Hillbarn Theatre, and plays on its stage at 1285 East Hillsdale Blvd., Foster City, CA through May 4, 2025.