Be Careful! The Sharks Will Eat You!
(2011 New York International Fringe Festival)
What a great title. But writing this review, I feel like I’m wielding a double-edged sword. Writer/actor Jay Alvarez is full of energy, charisma, and skill. Some of his moments on stage are quite brilliant, fully felt, and deeply moving, showing strong physicality and dancing and singing abilities, too. On the other hand, as the play progresses, he starts to repeat himself and rely on cliché, pushing himself so hard he abuses his voice. If only Mr. Alvarez had enough faith in himself and his material to relax, sit quietly, and just talk in his own voice more often; he might achieve a much more profound understanding of himself and his history.
To audience members who are not acquainted with the political realities of the time (Cuba, 1950s–1960s) the play is informative. An interest in Cuba would enhance an audience member’s appreciation. I liked Jay Alvarez and his one-man show, but I felt it has evolved only halfway towards its potential. I can only urge Mr. Alvarez to relax, relax, and again, to relax. Allow your inner emotional realities to emerge more naturally, which can only be done in quietude and with the power of “being alone in public” as Stanislavsky suggests. Don’t be eaten up by falling into caricature.