Primarily set within the underside of modern society - prison, group home, foster home, dark alleys, and poorly-lit streets - "Masks" adroitly alternates between joy and pain, and humor and rage, to depict with remarkable equanimity the efforts of the men to overcome their mistakes and join the ranks of the productive and the law-abiding.
Eschewing propaganda and politics, the play keeps our attention tightly focused on the plight of Jason and T.G. They are presented as individuals, and not symbols of societal injustice.
"Masks," which is divided into two acts and 22 scenes, takes place from 1985 to 2007. Alfonso and Daluz neatly incorporate period music into the play, in part as a tool to enhance our understanding of the characters. In the play's best scene, Jason and T.G., having just met as roommates at the group home, get into an extended discussion about musical genres and artists. With irresistible jams and beats as accompaniment, they advocate passionately for their preferences, in a manner that remains unique to males of all backgrounds.
Also unique to males, even post-"Bridesmaids" -- is the mixture of braggadocio, insecurity, and wild exaggeration that falls under the general heading of "sex talk." There's plenty of it in "Masks," including the description of a device made from common household items that prisoners invented for the receiving of pleasure. Unfortunately, it's too complicated a formula to repeat here.
As Jason, Daluz ranges easily from violent offender to constant kidder. On top of everything else, the character has ambitions to become a writer; Daluz goes soft and sensitive when reciting one of Jason's poems. The actor convinces us that these various moods can co-exist within the same complex person.
T.G. survives and thrives on his readymade store of funny one-liners. Alfonso delivers them all with just the right timing and tone to garner the necessary laughs.
The ample stage at the J.E.T. Studios, which is accessed down a long, slender corridor, is ideal to accommodate a show that at various times involves physical confrontations, dancing, and the enactment of crimes. Initially, it is somewhat incongruous to watch a play about the stark reality of life in the 'hood being performed on a shiny hardwood floor, but soon enough, we have made the proper adjustment.
"Masks" runs Friday, January 27th at 8 p.m., Saturday, January 28th at 7 p.m., and Tuesday, February 7th and Tuesday, February 21st, at 7:30 p.m. Beginning in March, the show will be performed the last Tuesday of the month. General admission tickets are $20, with tickets for students and seniors priced at $15. To purchase tickets, call 818-358-3453 or go online at www.masksplay.eventbrite.com ; . J.E.T. Studios is located at 5126 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood.
