Pennsylvania Playhouses sweetly charming "Our Lady of the Tortilla" is a heartfelt comedy about family that reveals love is at the core despite any disagreements.
Playful and gently humorous, Luis Santeiros prize-winning play continues at the playhouse in Bethlehem through Feb. 12.
The 1987 comedy follows the Cruz family as they weather changing relationships and fitting in when their religious aunt sees the face of the Virgin Mary in a tortilla, turning their suburban New Jersey home upside down.
Sonia Collazo-Strockyl is warm and well meaning as Dolores, the unmarried aunt who still follows the old ways and has religious icons and candles around the house. She prays to an actor and her mother who she says are in purgatory. Collazo-Strockyls Dolores has a huge heart and is always ready to sacrifice for the rest of her family. 
Gloria Millheim is high strung and passionate as Dahlia Cruz, the family matriarch who is obsessed with seducing her straying husband back home. Fiery and focused, Milheim's Dahlia is a force of nature as she dons a slinky dress to lure her husband back.
The younger son, Nelson, is a college student and embarrassed by his familys eccentricities. Visiting with his non-Latin girlfriend Beverly, Nelson immediately tries to hide all cultural images and pass off his aunts tortillas as "crepes."
Dave Donados Nelson is overly serious and somewhat dour. The character is slow to accept that his cultural heritage is as much a part of him as his thesis on the idealized 1950s sitcom "Leave it to Beaver."
Andrew Maldonado is overpowering and boisterous as Nelsons slick older brother Eddie who is something of a wheeler dealer. Eddie even makes a pass at Beverly, while his own girlfriend waits for him outside in a van.
For opening night, Lana Brucker who was cast as Beverly was sick, and Tamara Decker, who was cast as Eddies unseen girlfriend, went on in her place. Although Decker carried a script, it was barely noticeable and she did an admirable job on short notice.
As Beverly, Decker is sweet, good-natured and more than willing to learn about the Cruz culture.
After Dolores sees the Virgin in her tortilla (very effectively and charmingly done with sound and lighting) her family is somewhat confused and embarrassed. Until Eddy sees a chance to make a buck off the reporters and pilgrims destroying the lawn in the back yard.
By the end, there is a change in the perceptions of the family that could be considered a miracle, for an uplifting conclusion.
Kathy Pacheco, in her Playhouse debut as director, keeps the pace brisk and action on stage flowing smoothly.
Set designer Brett Oliveira and Corinne Philbin have created a cozy living room and kitchen accented by a lit-up statue of the Virgin Mary.
Performances are 7:30 p.m. Jan. 28, Feb. 3-4 and 10-11; and 3 p.m. Jan. 29, Feb. 5 and 12.
Tickets are $25 for adults; $22 for seniors and $15 for students.
For information, go to paplayhouse.org, or call 610-865-6665.
Photo by Kim Carson Photography