"A Public Reading of an Unproduced Screenplay About the Death of Walt Disney," show #897

Director Diego J. Sosa went 2-for-2 on helming terrifically envisioned and executed plays at Fresno State’s Experimental Theatre Company this season. His most recent directorial endeavor, Lucas Hnath’s A Public Reading of an Unproduced Screenplay About the Death of Walt Disney, takes on a historical fictional account of how the title’s plot would possibly play out. Sosa’s pacing matched Hnath’s writing, a playwright I’ve often interpreted as someone who writes how people think, not necessarily how they talk. Hnath’s script is clipped, quick, and leaves room for beats to be acted in. Sosa’s helming allowed for the audience to sit back and enjoy or lean forward and follow closely, both which I found myself doing in its closing Sunday matinee. Complemented by a uniformly strong cast and superb technical designs, this …Walt Disney was as good as a trip to theme park!

(Nico J. Diviccaro (Walt) and Cesar Uribe (Roy); Photo credit: Daphne Doss)

Walt Disney, as a historical figure, has gravitas just when mentioning the name. The character Hnath has written, of the same name, matches that gravitas; it is a titanic-sized role put in an appropriately timed 75-minute one-act play. Nico J. Diviccaro met this gravitas with a delightful dialect, a most alluring mustache, and a saunter that made his monologues, tirades, and impassioned hurling of insults all the more enjoyable to experience. Cesar Uribe, playing Roy, was an earnest foil to Walt, a nice guy who genuinely finishes last, often, as brother to Walt and serves as a punching bag to all the blows Walt, and the media, gives him. Kate Peck was a standout as Daughter, delivering her “When I Think of Your Name” monologue with incredible poise and devastating nuance. Rounding out the acting company was Christian Gonzalez, who did a fine job in his few scenes opposite Diviccaro, playing Ron Miller, partner to Daughter.

(Cast of A Public Reading of an Unproduced Screenplay About the Death of Walt Disney; Photo credit: Daphne Doss)

Pierre Bull and Aranza Patrida added a flare of musicality by playing their piano and cello, respectively, live, and adding to the heightened emotions music serves in a play like this. Justice’s costume design was altogether excellent, giving homage to both the time period, while giving a lovely Disney vibe to the supporting cast. Yer Lee’s hair and makeup was just as strong, giving the cast a uniform look that wraps the audience into the time of Walt’s last years and days. Beyonce Rodriguez-Fabel’s lighting design was patient, emotive, and proved to be the fifth character in this play when the text makes reference to itself, especially at the end.

(Lying down-Nico J. Diviccaro (Walt), Standing-Kate Peck (Daughter), and the Band upstage; Photo credit: Daphne Doss)

It has been a pleasure to see The Experimental Theatre Company’s ongoing excellence in producing works with students and faculty who believe in propelling the theatre scene and craft by way of thematically urgent and important plays. I look forward to witnessing what the program has in store for their upcoming seasons, and bravo to all who made this past season a necessary and artistically fulfilling time at the theater.