The Little King of Norwalk shines in world premiere

Randy Vasquez, Ruth Livier, Richard Azurdia and J. Ed Araiza in “The Little King of Norwalk,” playing now through Nov. 2 at the Los Angeles Theatre Center. (Photos by Grettel Cortes Photography)

NORWALK – Playwright Israel López Reyes, a Norwalk resident and 2006 Downey High School alumnus, is a member of Artistic Director José Luis Valenzuela’s Latino Theater Company (LTC) Circle of Imaginistas, a distinguished group of playwrights that includes one of the nation’s finest, Luis Alfaro. Together, they collaborate with LTC on the development of new works. Reyes’s latest play has spent two years in development with the company — an exceptionally rare opportunity for any playwright.

His play, The Little King of Norwalk, is now having its world premiere as part of the Latino Theater Company’s 40th anniversary season at the Los Angeles Theatre Center, directed by Geoffrey Rivas. Performances run through November 4, with tickets starting as low as $10.

This is a major play, and one of the funniest I have seen all year. Vividly imaginative, energetic, and hysterical, it represents theatre at its very best.

Before studying English at Southern Methodist University and later acting at UCLA, Reyes credits former Downey High School drama teacher Sherri Stauffer with teaching him that theatre is a collaborative art form — one that asks important questions of society.

In 2013, the Downey Arts Coalition produced a series of Actors’ Equity staged readings of plays adapted from Daniel Houston Dàvila’s novel Malinche’s Children (2003), a century-long fictional history of Norwalk’s Carmelas Barrio. Those readings explored a question that still resonates today: Where are the stories of Southeast Los Angeles County?

LTC provides its Circle of Imaginistas with a range of thematic prompts. Reyes expanded on the theme of “the underdog” — an intelligent, working-class man who tries to improve his life but goes about it the wrong way, ultimately lying and losing everything. LTC commissioned him to write a play in which a homeboy becomes a king.

Reyes said, what happens when a common man becomes a decision-maker? Will they contribute to the common good, or become selfish?

The Little King of Norwalk is a tribute to Chicano identity in its many forms. It takes inspiration from Gogol’s The Inspector General and infuses it with magical realism and broad, hilarious comedy. The opening-night audience roared with laughter — especially at the references to Norwalk, Downey, and Cerritos — often rolling in their seats.

The play is a biting satire described as a modern barrio fable about family, community, power, politics, and the price of survival. It is set against the backdrop of a real-life 2024 scandal, when the Norwalk City Council imposed a ban on homeless shelters, laundromats, car washes, payday loan centers, and discount stores. The ban on shelters was later repealed after a lawsuit by the State of California.

Reyes explained that Juan Pérez makes a promise to his mother to take care of his twin sister, Wendy, who’s attending Cerritos College and is an activist. He lies, impersonates someone, and loses everything. The story’s context is the shelter ban and flawed politicians at City Hall, but ultimately it’s about Juan Pérez and his sister. Everything stems from that story — even the magical realism.

Pérez, from Barrio Norwalk, is charged with driving under the influence and ordered to attend AA meetings. But after walking into the wrong room at City Hall, he’s mistaken for a state inspector. Rather than correct them, Pérez plays along, setting off a journey of lies, family betrayal, and a desperate search for redemption.

Xavi Moreno is all energy and emotion as Juan Pérez. Esperanza America shines as his twin sister Wendy, a homeless activist who, because of Juan’s DUI, loses her car, her job, and eventually her home. Her child stays with her ex while she faces eviction. Juan promises to fix everything.

Richard Azurdia opens the play as The Law, stepping from the shadows to introduce a colorful ensemble of characters. Randy Vasquez plays Mayor Alvarado; Ruth Livier, city manager Nancy Juarez; J. Ed Araiza, the school superintendent; and Azurdia doubles as Chief of Police Ricky Ortiz.

The corrupt city officials plot to bribe the supposed inspector — Pérez — who, wearing a blue Goodwill suit and brown shoes, momentarily hesitates but takes the cash. The mayor’s team hatches a campaign to “clean up” Norwalk by sweeping the homeless from the streets while promoting “law and order” with photo ops handing out car seats and hot dogs in Zimmerman Park.

We want Norwalk to be safe, they declare. To lead the Keystone City into the future — clean streets, no homeless — change is needed to liberate our city.

Randy Vasquez, Xavi Moreno and Ruth Livier in “The Little King of Norwalk.”

Meanwhile, Pérez is falling apart. He hasn’t given Wendy any of the money and is trapped in his double life. I’m tired of being left behind, he says. I feel trapped — like I’m in a prison.

In a moving moment of magical realism, his mother appears: You are a fragile soul — and son, a true homeboy. Go make the right choice. We are proud of you.

Pérez confesses to the mayor and his team: I am not who you think I am. Alone, he loses everything.

By the play’s end, City Hall is under siege by homeless residents and activists protesting the ban — and then the real state inspector arrives.

Director Geoffrey Rivas, a founding member of the Latino Theater Company, expertly guides this dynamic ensemble in what he calls Chicano Noir. Despite its satirical tone, we care deeply for Juan Pérez and Wendy.

The production’s design is stunning. Maureen Weiss’s scenic design features revolving panels that transform seamlessly into doors, walls, and windows. Hsuan-Kuang Hsieh’s projections, John A. Garofalo’s lighting, John Zalewski’s sound design, and Claire Fraser Walsh’s costumes all contribute to a vivid and cohesive world.

Reyes said the most courageous act is the simple act of service to one’s family and community. He wants audiences to know it’s not a crime to be unsheltered or struggling — to lift yourself up — and that everyone deserves the dignity of having a home.

Rivas added that the message he hopes people take away is one of hope: “Yes, we make mistakes or wrong decisions, but we can still correct them, right a wrong, or bring justice to the unjust.”

THE LITTLE KING OF NORWALK

Written by Israel López Reyes
Directed by Geoffrey Rivas
Starring Esperanza America, Richard Azurdia, J. Ed Araiza, Ruth Livier, Xavi Moreno, Randy Vasquez
Produced by The Latino Theater Company

WHEN:
Performances: Oct. 4 – Nov. 2
Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m.; Sundays at 4 p.m.

WHERE:
The Los Angeles Theatre Center
514 S. Spring Street
Los Angeles CA 90013

PARKING:
$8 with box office validation at Los Angeles Garage Associate Parking structure, 545 S. Main St., Los Angeles, CA 90013 (between 5th and 6th Streets, just behind the theater)
Metered parking available on streets surrounding the theater.
Take the Metro: nearest stop is Pershing Square (two blocks west of The LATC)

TICKET PRICES:
$10-$48
Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays $48
Students, Seniors, Veterans and LAUSD teachers: $24 with valid ID
All Thursday night performances and previews: $10