Something to Chew On: 2 Miami Regional Theaters Small, But Mighty With New Works

 Lena Marie Gonzalez stars in “Here, Chew, Chew,” Armando Santana’s original psychological thriller that made its world premiere with Main Street Players in Miami Lakes. (Photo by Gabriel Medina)

In South Miami and in Miami Lakes, those looking for challenging, original works got what they were looking for with two recent productions.

At True Mirage Theater, Ricky J Martinez’s “With the Swallows”—which ran through October—is a compelling drama about a grieving widower who returns to the woods of Idaho to scatter his wife’s ashes, only to face plenty of complications along the way. The play, rich with family dynamics, was directed by Martinez, the former artistic director of New Theatre.

Running through early November, Main Street Players in Miami Lakes staged the world premiere of Armando Santana’s edge-of-your-seat psychological thriller “Here, Chew, Chew,” directed by Emalie Belokon. The story follows Perdita (Lena Marie Gonzalez), who is mourning the loss of her husband after a tragic accident. When his twin sister, Max (Thiana Berrick), arrives unexpectedly, reality takes a strange turn.

Evelyn Perez as Laura Trejo, Bill Schwartz as Randall Winning, and Alice Rodriguez as Dante in True Mirage Theater’s world premiere of Ricky J. Martinez’s “With the Swallows.” (Photo by Darcy Hernandez-Gil)

With “Here, Chew, Chew,” Santana delivers a gripping horror thriller that draws its scares from a smart, layered script rather than slasher clichés, leaving the fright lingering long after the lights come up.

As the audience enters the intimate Main Street space, Perdita is already seated on the couch—a strong choice that establishes the world before the first line is spoken. The living room around her is a mess: garbage scattered everywhere, plastic bottles and crumpled bags on the floor, no electricity. The couch she’s perched on is ripped on both sides—as if a dog had clawed or chewed through it—and black splatters stain the doors. The place looks filthy, lived-in, and unsettling.

This two-hander demands both physical and emotional endurance from its actors, and Gonzalez and Berrick fully rise to the challenge. A highly physical fight scene unfolds in near darkness, with Perdita nearly striking Max with a baseball bat—a shocking moment that drives the tension to a breaking point. Gonzalez is spellbinding as the seemingly innocent widow caught in a downward psychological spiral following her husband’s death. She never overplays the limp caused by her hip injury from the accident; instead, she uses it to underscore her character’s physical and emotional deterioration.

Berrick provides the perfect counterbalance to the fragile, birdlike Perdita, portraying Max as the no-nonsense family protector. And Berrick does well bringing the audience along in her shoes as Max, everyone caught up in Perdita’s spider web of confusion.

Max (Thiana Berrick) shows up at the house of Perdita (Lena Marie Gonzalez) in Main Street Players’ world premiere of Armando Santana’s “Here, Chew, Chew.” (Photo by Gabriel Medina)

Santana builds a “Misery”-type thriller where the suspense grows through storytelling rather than spectacle. Max learns that her brother’s dog, Hershey, has disappeared—but later, Perdita claims the dog is dead. Why has Max really shown up? To check on Perdita’s well-being, or to find out whether she had something to do with her brother’s missing remains? And perhaps the biggest question of all: is Chew Chew a sinister figment of grief, or a real and vengeful hound?

While Santana’s world dives deep into psychological dread and blurred realities, Martinez’s “With the Swallows” offers its own kind of haunting—an emotional one. Where “Here, Chew, Chew” plays with fear and illusion, “With the Swallows” turns inward, examining love, loss, acceptance, and the ache of memory.

The cast of “With the Swallows” includes veteran actor Bill Schwartz, who brings a lived-in, take-no-crap quality to Randall Winning. Alice Rodriguez, as Dante Trejo—the young companion who affectionately calls his older lover “Daddy”—adds just the right touch of sass to the role.

Dante has a job as a fashion photographer, perhaps working for a fashion magazine (this probably could be a bit clearer in the script), a detail that complicates assumptions about his motives. Winning’s bitter, homophobic son, Bryce, alludes to Dante’s potential interest in Winning’s money, but it seems that Dante isn’t looking for a sugar daddy. In one memorable moment, Dante takes “Daddy” shopping and insists on paying for everything, leaving the question of who really holds the power between them open.

Enrique Galan, left, as Bryce Winning, confronts his father Randall (Bill Schwartz) and Randall’s young lover, Dante (Alice Rodriguez) after showing up at their hotel room in Ricky J. Martinez’s “With the Swallows.” (Photo by Darcy Hernandez-Gil)

Enrique Galan plays Bryce, now the mayor of the small town, who has some of his own skeletons in the closet, and newcomer Derrick Quiles portrays Young Bryce.

Martinez weaves connections across generations, including a beautifully crafted scene where the two older figures — Randall and Dante’s mother, Laura Trejo (portrayed with captivating authenticity by Evelyn Perez) — share wine, get a little tipsy, and bond over the experiences and reflections that come with age.

The play first unfolds in a Best Western hotel room, which then transforms—almost magically—into a forest setting anchored by two Shibari rope trees, an inspired design choice that works beautifully in the small True Mirage space. Set design and construction is credited to Daniel Gil and Martinez. Both settings place the audience close to the characters, bringing the emotions close — and a credit to the actors and the director for how they move within the space to take advantage of the intimacy. Martinez skillfully allows each character moments that draw the audience into their point of view, creating a multi-faceted storytelling experience much in the framework, and done so well here, in the model of the Great American Family Drama.

“With the Swallows” and “Here, Chew, Chew” were world premieres written by Miami-based playwrights.

Miami’s regional theater scene continues to thrive with bold, original works—some tucked just out of plain sight. Seek them out.

True Mirage Theater is located at 8846 SW 129^th Terrace, Suite B, Miami. Info at www.truemiragetheater.com. Main Street Players perform at the Main Street Playhouse, 6812 Main St., Miami Lakes. Its next production is “Medea by Euripedes” opening Feb. 28. Info at www.mainstreetplayers.com.

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