Guadalís Del Carmen’s Bachata Beat Inspires Dominican Duo

by Sarah Jackson

Marin Theatre Company’s “Bees & Honey” moves quickly, dancing to a Dominican beat. Don’t miss your chance to catch this culturally complex play. Playwright Guadalís Del Carmen explores how outside forces of sexism, racism, aging parents, and economics affect even the sweetest relationship.

Set in a New York apartment, “Bees” focuses on the lives of a young Dominican couple, Johair and Manuel, played with intensity and charm by Katherine George and Jorge Lendeborg Jr. The swiftly moving scenes are deftly directed by Karina Gutiérrez who choreographs the pair as they fall in love, dance to Bachata music, and set up a home together.

Johair considers herself a Black Dominican, while Manuel says he is Dominican but not Black. Johair, an activist lawyer, replies: “Tell the next police officer who stops you that you aren’t Black.” Their conversation could be carried out further, but living a hurried life, they quickly move on.

Their upbringing and education levels are different: she’s a lawyer, and he’s a mechanic with big plans, brings a good dose of reality and tension to the play. Johair, a brilliant, Columbia-educated prosecutor, clashes with Manuel, who runs a successful and expanding auto mechanic shop. Their problems and their friends are worlds apart.

But like many great love stories, opposites attract.

We all know sweet people like Johair and Manuel who are young, ambitious; but new at dealing with adult conflicts, and just keeping their heads above water. They share dreams and language, slipping into Spanish when their emotions take them away.

The set designed by Carlos Antonio Aceves is perfect for their homespun reality. It’s clean and a little bit old, without many personal touches. But it is comfortable or them right now. Manuel says that just like the Jefferson’s from the television show, they are “moving on up.” But unlike the Jeffersons, they have yet to get there.

Johair and Manuel tease and argue with each other over light subjects; but as the play progresses, they face challenging issues and decisions. The need to constantly scramble begins to take its toll on their love—no matter how intense and sensual they are.

Johair is working on a rape case where the judge and defendant belong to the same fraternity. And the victim’s past sexual relations are being used against her. Undeterred, Johair keeps fighting for the woman’s rights, but she brings the fight home more than once.

Manuel, out of his league educationally, loves Johair with all his heart. He reads Feminist books, lectures his young mechanics on how to treat women, and fixes dinner. When something terrible happens to rock their life, Manuel does all he can to steady the boat. Unfortunately, Johair is so profoundly in pain that she cannot appreciate his efforts.

The bittersweet music of the play, Bachata, reminds us that the couple is reaching for an American dream that has traditionally kept them out. By the end of the story, I was praying that their love would find a way to survive.

“Bees & Honey” by Guadalís del Carmen, directed by Karina Gutiérrez, scenic design by Carlos Antonio Aceves, costume design by Alice Ruiz, lighting design by Kate Boyd, sound design by Michael Kelly, intimacy coordination by Jeunée Simon, fights choreographed by Kristen Matia, dance consulting by Mark Ellis.

At Marin Theatre Company, Mill Valley, California. Info: marintheatre.org – to March 10, 2024.

Cast: Jorge Lendeborg & Katherine George.

Banner photo: Jorge Lendeborg Jr. & Katherine George. Photos by Kevin Berne