Kurt GardnerI Hope You’re Having Fun in Hell, Dad! is a razor-sharp and scathing family satire with snappy mordacious dialogue and a keen understanding of dysfunctional family dynamics will keep you at the edge of your seat with hilarious and unexpected turns as well as poignant moments of true connection.
Chelsea reluctantly attends the funeral of her father, a successful businessman and a pillar of the community. Or, in Chelsea’s perspective, a lying, cheating, asshole. You see, Chelsea would rather swim in a pool with hungry sharks than spend an evening with the self-centered narcissists she calls family, but, alas… her mother wants her there for the photo op.
Cinthya Carmona (Jenni, Pretty Smart, Greenhouse Academy) leads a predominantly Latine cast, also starring Jill-Michele Meleán (MADtv, Reno 911, HBOmax’s Comedy Chingonas and Amazon Prime’s White/Latina), Cece Rogina (Paramount+ Mexico’s Harina), Ryan Padilla (Tubi’s Prepare to Die), Sara Portillo, Dulce Valencia (Lifetime’s Her America, Apple TV+’s “Dear…” ), Sofia Yepes (The Low End Theory, which she also co-wrote and produced), Mike Rubin and Savina and Serena Perey.
Ms. Martínez Barrón gave ArtsBeat LA an exclusive interview prior to the show opening.
What was your inspiration for creating this project?
It all began two years ago during the writer’s strike. I had been laid off from my VP of Drama Development job at CBS and filled my time with creativity: writing and going to see theater. One night, I fell in love with the work of a playwright and TV writer named Bernardo Cubria. His play Crabs in a Bucket inspired me to take up playwriting myself. At the beginning of last year I was looking for a playwriting class, but all the classes I could find were virtual or in New York, but that exact same week Bernardo posted he was teaching a playwriting class and I had to sign up.
The play itself was born from an idea that has been in the back of my head for more than ten years. I originally wanted to write it as a film, in the vein of “This is where I leave you” about my extremely dysfunctional family and my relationship with my father. The opening monologue is actually something that had been in my computer for almost a decade but it was until Bernardo’s playwriting class that I had the time and space to actually explore it.
The play is loosely inspired in my dysfunctional family. My relationship to every member of my family is deeply complicated in it’s own way. I wanted to explore those painful, complex dynamics but make it funny, with the trademark dark humor I’ve developed as a shield because of it. So every character has been heightened and taken to the extreme in this satire.
I wanted to write something that was both hilarious but also deeply uncomfortable, raw and at times heartbreaking, that showcased that you can both hate your family and the choices they’ve made that have affected you and also hold love for them and yearning for who they were never able to be for you.
How do you relate to these characters?
The characters are heightened versions of my family. And while they’re inspired by my family, they’re not my family exactly because I’ve amplified all their flaws for comedic purposes. They’re their own thing. Like, for example, Chelsea, the lead, is a collection of all my insecurities. I had so much fun writing this because it allowed me to make fun of all the things I hate about myself. This play also allowed me to play with crazy ideas like what would happen if my mom got revenge from my dad’s mistresses. Or imagine the moments of connection with my half-sisters that I’ve never actually had in real life. It’s very fun! Better than going to therapy!
What do you hope Fringe attendees get out of the show?
I hope Fringe attendees have a good time, some good laughs. And perhaps come out of the show with a realization that hurt people hurt people, but that even despite hurt and betrayal you can always find connection. I ultimately believe that love always wins and wanted to showcase these terrible family that ultimately comes together to support each other in their grief.
Have you been to the Fringe before? What do you like about it?
I’ve been to the Fringe a couple of times. I first heard about Fringe around 2014. One of my roommates at the time put on a musical adaptation of The Count of Monte Cristo. I reconnected with Fringe last year because my friend’s husband put up a show with his family called Blacks in Space that was very cool. Seeing his show made me want to do it this year. And that’s why I decided to stage this play.
I love the creativity from Fringe! I love that it brings talented artists together who are doing something for the craft, the fun and the experience. The entertainment industry has so many gatekeepers (I’m one myself) and it can be so demoralizing to see people wait years and years until someone says you’re good enough to be worthy of attention. It’s so exciting to see people make their own work without waiting for a gatekeeper to let them in. And it’s been so fun for me to just do something. In a time where the industry is slowing down, finding time to rehearse and work with actors has brought momentum back into my life.
Since the Fringe is a collaborative effort, are there any other shows you’re interested in seeing?
Back in December when I was scouting theaters, I ran into another one of my former roommates from that same house, Mary Bonney. We were both looking at the same theater and both were writing and producing shows. I went to office hours last week and we ran into each other again. I’m very excited to see her show. It’s called One Up: The Musical and it’s a musical about a videogame designer set in the 1980’s. It looks so fun! Plus I know her previous work and I know this will be a really cool musical!
I Hope You’re Having Fun in Hell, Dad! plays several dates at the Actor’s Company’s Let Live Theater, 916 N. Formosa Ave.. Showtimes and tickets can be found here.
Terry Morgan
Pauline Adamek
