Reed Flores’ Comic Heroes Fight Apocalypse on BART

by Barry David Horwitz

When three dancing rice cookers in their white sacks take over the stage, you may just fall off your chair.

Good friends Ren (Dom Refuerzo) and Mai (Nicole Apostol Bruno) get into a hot argument about using “instant” rice instead of real rice. The jasmine rice has been sitting in unopened sacks in the kitchen for years. It’s time to try the real thing.

A long-simmering feud erupts between the two Asian American Pacific Islanders (AAPI), who are so different from each other. Nice touches of gender-queering while both are fighting U.S. conformity. Well, one adopts instant rice, but the other holds tightly onto sacks of authentic Jasmine rice. Food defines their quest as they battle colonialism, fast food, and the risk of losing their Chamoru heritage.

The friends embody the fears of oppression and danger that are encircling us now. With powerful queer sensiblities, they agree to fight the Orange Cheeto Man who is threatening S.F. The “Villainous Forces” become comically real and ridiculous in three characters played by Gwynnevere Cristobal, Julie Kuwabara, and Amanda Le Nguyen.

The terrific team threatens our heroes with destruction and death, but they pick up the nun-chucks and make some great leg-kicks. They jump on BART for some underground fighting, even though the enemy is elusive.

Some evil force is animating the Korean “Cuckoo Rice Cookers” that are attacking San Francisco. Is it tech greed or corporate takeover? Whatever, it’s threatening the end of real food and the suppression of Philippine, Guamanian, and Chamoru cultures. So, we laugh uproariously at the sacks of rice because we know they will be defeated—the question is how and by whom?

You can rest easy because Mom is on the way. Mama Lin, played by the sharp and surprising Paula Vercudia, reacts to her daughter’s condescending attitude with her own mother hen rules. As Lin, Vercudia performs a whole comic play in herself. Unexpected, non-motherly remarks pop out of her, riveting our attention.

Magnetic Rudy Guerrero plays multiple roles—as Pop, Unk, & Ron—always with humor and a wry comment on the end of the world. He manages to squeeze humor out of confusion. Rudy brings magic to the mix. Mickey Skinner is heart-warming as a wide eyed lesbian shop worker. Lisa Hu brings suburban righteousness as a doting elder sister.

Reed Flores’ intriguing script features multiple battles between unseen forces and our clever AAPI team, but we get confused too. Director Michelle Talgarow makes the high points sing—from attacking Cuckoo Rice Cookers to battles on BART trains. She makes it all reflect the heavy political conflicts swirling around us right now.

“Cuckoo Edible Magic” creates clever ways to understand and cope with the chaos around us. Ren and Mai learn to rely on each other; they celebrate their Asian/Pacific Islander heritages; and they learn to make good food—like Mama Lin and Pop.

Let’s all absorb the great queer love and humor of “Cuckoo Edible Magic.” When rice cookers attack, it’s time to resist and regroup.

 

“Cuckoo Edible Magic” by Reed Flores, directed by Michelle Talgarow, scenic design by Mikiko Uesegi, sound by James Ard, costumes by Madeline Berger, lighting by Ray Oppenheimer, props by Heidi Button, by SFBATCO, at Magic Theatre, San Francisco. Info: sfbatco.org – to March 8, 2025.

Cast: Nicole Apostol Bruno, Gwynnevere Cristobal, Rudy Guerrero, Lisa Hu, Julie Kuwabara, Amanda Le Nguyen, Dom Refuerzo, Mickey Skinner, and Paula Vercudia.

Banner photo: Julie Kuwabara (crazed rice cooker) attacks Dom Refuerzo & Nicole Apostol Bruno. Photos: Alexa “LexMex” Treviño