Native Gardens

by Karen Zacarías

Pablo, a high-powered lawyer, and doctoral candidate Tania, his very pregnant wife, are realizing the American dream when they purchase a house next door to community stalwarts Virginia and Frank. But a disagreement over a long-standing fence line soon spirals into an all-out war of taste, class, privilege, and entitlement. The hilarious results guarantee no one comes out smelling like a rose.

Genres: Plays, Theatre, Read For School, School

76 pages, Paperback

Published March 8, 2019

Reviews

[Lee Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can't wait to see this play on the stage where I work, The Des Moines Playhouse. This is a very smart and funny play about what makes a good neighbor, but it also addresses clashes between generations, between ethnic groups, between political positions, between environmentalists and those who don't think about such things.

[Talitha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very grateful to have assistant directed this play at PlayMakers, and I hope to direct it myself one day at the Forest Theatre. I’ve read this dozens of times & still find something new in the subtext with each read. To me, the ending is such a good metaphor for neoliberalism - the wall might look prettier, but it’s still a wall…

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ending felt rushed and only slightly contrived, but, nonetheless, a very funny satire of race relations, upward mobility, identity pride and insecurity, and suburban neighborhood BS. The buildup was brilliant and the explosion was extremely satisfactory. Please, have more modern, sitcom-y plays talk about serious hot-button issues like this.

[Emma Pope · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really fun and unfortunately something that’s all too familiar. I feel like the baby serves as a deus ex machina though, I was hoping for more resolution between the couples. Perhaps that’s something that will be tied in with staging and the earlier references about birth in nature. Looking forward to seeing it performed.

[Vicwelborn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't read scripts in years but have read two this year. Read this one as when I saw the play (Playmakers) I had this strong sense of a matrix underlying the story. Read it to see if I could identify it. Think I did.

And it's a good play

[Heath A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting use of the garden as a metaphor for settler colonialism and related ideas. The end to me was a little pat, especially in these contentious times. But an interesting play with a pretty original conceit at its center. Definitely something I would love to see performed.

[Tom Holehan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious contemporary comedy about a young Mexican couple who move next door to some longtime bluebloods and begin a dispute over property lines. This wry comedy is fall-down funny at times while examining issues of privilege, class and entitlements.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this little play about two couples who are neighbors. One couple is old and white. One couple is young and Hispanic. I really wish we could do this play but up here in Montana we have very few Hispanic actors.

[arden · Rating 3 out of 5]

“ay dios mío de los santos”

i very much wanted to like this more than i did ugh. especially because there’s good latin rep!! it just felt kinda cheesy at times? idk?

[Lizzie Cisneros · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to read this play for my Costume Design class, and I actually really enjoyed it!

[Linnea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Heavy handed and underdeveloped. Pat little happy ending.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

ending felt a little rushed, don’t love time jumps

[Pietosis · Rating 5 out of 5]

That ending caught me off guard. Loved it will reread the story

[Gareth Davies · Rating 1 out of 5]

The characters are not very well developed and speak very different from the class they are supposed to be representing (ie. Virginia saying “shlong”)
The conclusion comes much too easily.
Not enough comedy to pull the audience into the lacking plot.

[StorytellerMg · Rating 5 out of 5]

My new staff pic at work!! I love Native Gardens by Karen Zacarías. An argument over the placement of a fence becomes a border dispute over privilage, race, and land entitlement. Fantastic