Stacey Martino Rivera’s “The Circle”– An Impressive Debut

On Stage With…

Lady Beverly Cohn

THE CIRCLE, written by Stacey Martino Rivera and under the excellent direction by D.W. Jacobs, made its World Premiere at the Greenway Arts Alliance.  A dramedy, the action takes place against the backdrop of the 2016 U.S. election and delves deeply into the Medina family dynamics during a gathering in San Antonio, Texas.  The action begins with members of the family unit seated about the stage, with each one taking a turn to break the fourth wall to address the audience directly with their individual thoughts and  grievances.  This “Restorative Culture” group gathering is moderated by 16-year-old Anna Medina played by Ava Rivera. When the action transitions to the home, the first to arrive is Ronnie Medina, a Hollywood actor played by Lakin Valdez.  He is accompanied by his partner Molly, who is nine months pregnant. Played by  Victoria Ratermanis, her character is dead set against marrying Ronnie even though they live together and he is the father of their forthcoming baby who eventually arrives in a carefully orchestrated theatrical delivery.  Rounding out their family unit is their 12-year-old very bright daughter Anna played by Luna Rivera.

Bottom L-R:  Eva Medina (Alma Martinez,) Maeve Mahoney (Lisa Richards,) Ronnie Medina (Lakin Valdez,) José Medina (René Rivera,) and Bud Ireton (Michael Brainard,) in Stacey Martino Rivera’s THE CIRCLE on stage at the Greenway Arts Alliance through February 22, 2026

Included in the family gathering is Molly’s mom Maeve Mahoney, a devout Catholic Irish woman played by Lisa Richards whose character brings the sometimes needed comic relief. Her gift to the Medina family is a giant garish painting of the Virgin Mary which she hangs on the wall near the hospital bed of dying grandma, Eva Medina, played by Alma Martinez who imbues her character with the appropriate histrionics as she moves in out of reality. The linchpin of the family is José Medina, characterized by René Rivera. He is an ex-con and the primary caretaker for his dying mom. He’s rough and doesn’t brook fools easily.  He is one of the first characters we meet as he enters his home with a MAGA man, Bud Ireton, played by Michael Brainard.  Kidnapped from a protest rally, he’s in a drunken stupor and is brought to the Medina home in a wheelbarrow pushed by José who dumps him into a chair and  ties him up.  Next door neighbor Mary Padron (Jeanette Godoy) drops in from time to time to help take care of the ailing grandma.  Nestled inside the script are some wonderful punch lines such as Maeve quipping “It’s hard to keep up with all the names we are supposed to call each other,” or referring to the MAGA guy: “How can we have a wedding with that drunken guy locked in the closet in a wheelchair.”

The Medina brothers: José Medina (René Rivera) & Ronnie Medina (Lakin Valdez) in Stacey Martino Rivera’s THE CIRCLE, directed by D.W. Jacobs, on stage at the Greenway Arts Alliance through February 22, 2026.

After a short break, Act II commences with Ronnie talking to the MAGA guy through the closet door.  Eventually we learn that Bud is part of the population that feels disenfranchised and that nothing was going right for him.  He was deeply depressed until he heard Trump say: “Make America Great Again” which gave him hope that someone was finally looking out for him. In a comic twist, when José unties him at the end of Act II and tells him he can leave, the response was certainly unexpected when he says:  “I’m not leaving.  I like it here!”  He also volunteers to help the brothers take down a tree that was poisoning the water-table.    

L-R:  José Medina (René Rivera) and Bud Ireton (Michael Brainard) in the World Premiere of Stacey Marino Rivera’s THE CIRCLE, directed by D.W. Jacobs, on stage at the Greenway Arts Alliance through February 22, 2026.

What is particularly interesting about this almost three-hour  play is the deft way the playwright infused weighty political issues such as racial injustice, the government’s assault on immigrants, and environmental challenges, without it becoming diatribe.  Thanks to Rivera’s excellent writing, points are made without beating you over the head. Historically, illuminating social issues has been one of the intrinsic roles of theatre going as far back as Ancient Greece (5th century BCE) with plays such as Aristophanes and Euripides, commenting on war, power, and family. This social commentary continued through the centuries, with Ibsen, Chekov, Brecht, O’Neill, and Hansberry, carrying on that exploratory tradition. “The Circle” certainly fits neatly into that genre of theatre.

Jacobs’ directing deftly moves the narrative along and elicited fully actualized, highly professional performances from each member of this talented ensemble. Adding to the excellence of this play is the production team including music by Germaine Franco who also oversaw the sound design, W. Alejandro Melendez’s Lighting and Projection Design, and Costumes by Carolyn Mazuca, including a wedding dress for the very pregnant Molly.  All the theatrical elements coalesced into an entertaining and provocative evening of theatre.

“THE CIRCLE”

Greenway Court Theatre

 544 North Fairfax Avenue

Hollywood, CA 90036

Fridays and Saturdays:  8:00 p.m

 Sundays:  2:00 p.m

Closing:   February 22, 2026. 

Tickets:   $30.00

Sliding Scale Suggested Price; $25.00

Students and Seniors 60+ $10 or groups of 10 or more

$55.00 Ticket + Contribution