Review: Onstage Playhouse’s ‘Fragment’ a vivid look at the cost of secrets

In the opening minutes of local playwright Carla Navarro’s play “Fragment/o/s of Air/e,” family matriarch Nina is planning a festive family dinner at her San Diego home in the early 2000s, but her peace of mind is continuously interrupted by dark and disjointed memories from her past.

Nina and her now ex-husband, Armando, fled Santiago, Chile, in the aftermath of General Augusto Pinochet’s violent coup d’etat in September 1973. Yet more than 30 years later, Nina is still carrying psychological baggage from the trauma she experienced in Chile. Until Nina reveals her truth, she will never heal.

“Fragment” opened Friday in its world premiere at OnStage Playhouse in Chula Vista. Navarro’s 90-minute play was developed with OnStage artistic director James P. Darvas, who also directed this vividly staged production. The play’s unusual title relates to the intruding fragments of memory that continue to haunt Nina.

“Fragment” is in very good shape for a new play. It brings light to a dark moment in history, establishes its story and characters without excessive exposition, moves swiftly, has mostly realistic dialogue and maintain a high-wire tension to the end. But the play also has an excess of screaming matches and a shocking act of violence that may be triggering for some audience members.

Structurally, the play slides back and forth across 30 years, as well as in and out of Nina’s suppressed memories of the sights, sounds and suffering she experienced under torture in Chile.

Valeria Vega delivers one of the strongest performances I’ve seen this year as the fierce but fragile Nina, whose failing efforts to hide the shame and secrets of her past have shattered her mental health.

Maya Sofia Enciso has a sassy, big-hearted idealism as Nina’s daughter, Chivi. Lester Isariuz is protective, but on edge, as Nina’s gay son, Flaco, whose dream of marrying his partner and adopting a child have been crushed by right-wing conservatism. And Arturo Medina has a sweet and wounded presence as Armando, Nina’s ex-husband, who hopes to rekindle their old flame.

Whenever memories erupt in Nina’s mind, the play’s physical environment shifts into a dreamlike state, with a big assist from sound designer Jaden Guerrero and lighting designer Ginger Chody. Patrick Mason created the detailed apartment scenic design and Brad Dubois designed costumes.

Plays written about historical events usually provide audience members with helpful background information in the opening scenes. “Fragment” does not. A few paragraphs about the Pinochet era, and the years that the play’s scenes take place, would be a helpful insert in the printed program.

Also, be aware that about 15% to 20% of the play is performed in Spanish, but the meaning of the words is obvious to non-Spanish speakers and it helps make the characters’ relationships more realistic.

‘Fragment/o/s of Air/e’

When: 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays; 5 p.m. Sundays. Through Aug. 18

Where: OnStage Playhouse, 291 Third Ave., Chula Vista

Tickets: $25 and up

Phone: 619-422-7787

Online: onstageplayhouse.org

This review has been updated to correct the spelling of Valeria Vega’s first name.