Recent Alien Abductions

See it if you want to see some really fascinating puzzle pieces come together in a really satisfying and powerful way.

Don't see it if you can't handle a bit of ambiguity/confusion as the puzzle pieces shift into place.

See it if you’re comfortable with double meanings and oblique narratives. It helps if you’re familiar with the psychology of gaslighting.

Don't see it if you don’t like reading into the details, don’t see why some topics are coded inside others, don’t take Puerto Rican independence seriously.

Also I liked watching this. Cortiñas is good at controlling the release of information—leaving breadcrumbs of context for you to form an increasingly clear picture of an environment/mentality. A warning, though: this is the sort of play that’s dense with details that hint at rather than highlight the main character's objectives. The direction of the play might seem inscrutable if you’re not alert to the associations around patriotism, assimilation, captivity, machismo, and, yeah, alien abductions—particularly in the act 1 monologue. The payoff is striking.... Read more Read less

See it if you're a sci-fi fan and want to support new work by one of the city's most creative theaters (Play Co.)

Don't see it if You have a short attention span, or like things to move at a fast clip. This is definitely a slow burn.

Also The performance I saw was still finding its footing. I appreciated the allegory that Mr. Cortinas wove, and the discomfiting style and tone of the show. It opens with a long monologue that was meant to setup the play, but it felt overly long and and stuffed.... Read more Read less