Review: “Candlelight” at the New Ohio Theatre

Featured: Ivette Dumeng And Christina Toth. Photo by AL Foote III

“Candleight” is the newest play by John Patrick Shanley and is described as a “Nuyorican comic romantic tragedy covered with magic and dipped in Brooklyn blood.” Which is just about the best description of the piece. In a truly beautiful and haunting work, Shanley manages to tug so strongly on our heartstrings and so persistently that they might just break. “Candlelight” tells the story of two ten-year-old kids, Esperanza (Ivette Dumeng) and Tito (Marc Reign), who “fall into something deeper and more dangerous than love.”

Shanley does a great job of showing the vastness of the mind of a child. Often, we think that a child’s mind is smaller or contains less multitudes than an adult simply because they have had fewer opportunities to see what the world has to offer. But in the play, Shanley proposes the notion that perhaps the child’s mind, free from the erosion of adulthood, sees things the most clearly. This certainly isn’t a new idea and it was done to an extent is Romeo and Juliet, the work this play mirrors, but an idea doesn’t have to be completely new to be effective. Shanley writes such clear characters with such clear perspectives and wants that the way we are welcomed into their vast world feels wholly unique to these people.

The play was steeped in magic of all kinds. From various items in Esperanza’s room coming to life, to Tito’s demon that lived in his oatmeal, the world from the very beginning is one with many mystical and whimsical elements. These were a wonderful addition to the story and gave a great window into how these children saw the world around them and dealt with the various traumas in their lives. The staging and set allowed for these magical elements to take shape in unique and surprising ways. The set was full of hidden entrances and exits that would change with the settings and bring about many surprises as characters would appear seemingly out of nowhere.

 The performances were spectacular across the board. Though, Marc Reign) as Tito stood out among the crowd. Navigating the youthful energy of a ten-year-old, the confusing new love feelings he has for Esperanza, and the complicated friendship with Paulie, Reign gave a nuanced and heartfelt performance that let us into the mind of this ten year old exploring many aspects of the world for the first time. The same can be said for the other two actors in the children trio Dumeng as Esperanza and John Cencio Burgos as Paulie. Dumeng juggled the innocence of a child with the necessary maturity of someone who has been through trauma very well. And Burgos, breaks your heart with his story of being the outsider and realizing his sexuality.

The only thing about the show that I was confused by or didn’t particularly respond to, was that a few characters seemed to have arcs that fell to the way side or resolved quickly to make room for the relationship between Tito and Esperanza. Now, since this relationship is the best part of the show, it wasn’t something that ruined my experience but things like the mother’s role in the play and her seeming almost glad for what happens to her daughter at the end of the play (all I can say without spoiling the ending) seemed strange and left me wondering what was trying to be said. A similar thing can be said for Paulie. Who, after a very frightening scene involving him and Esperanza’s father, doesn’t seem to get any resolution. I’m not saying all the resolution needs to be happy resolution. In fact, in this play it would not be out of the ordinary to have a tragic resolution, but I had fallen in love with that character and it seemed odd he was pushed aside.

There is a trigger warning needed for a show like this, as it depicts several moments of violence and abuse. These are mostly done from the father to Esperanza and other characters later. These moments are frightening and powerful but it should be said that if this is not something you want to see, maybe wait for the next one. Most of the moments, while very upsetting, are handled well. Though as the play progresses like I said in the above paragraph, his purpose for being there muddles and his presence in the ending moment, when all of the characters are dancing on stage, seemed strange to me. My eyes kept darting over to him and taking me out of the moment.

Overall, “Candlelight” was a beautiful and heartbreaking play about young love and trauma that will leave audiences with feeling of joy and overwhelming sorrow all wrapped up in a beautiful little package. And, despite a few moments that I had questions about, I very much enjoyed it and will be thinking about it for many days after.

“Candlelight” was written by John Patrick Shanley and directed by Lori Kee. It is being produced by the Nylon Fusion Theatre Company

It’s running November 27-December 19 at the New Ohio Theatre (154 Christopher St #1E, New York, NY 10014)

Starring: John Cencio Burgos, Alfredo Diaz, Ivette Dumeng, Marc Reign, Darlene Tejeiro, Christina Toth

Scenic / Props Design: Elizabeth Chaney

Costume Design: Janet Mervin

Lighting Design: Wilburn Bonnell

Sound Design: Andy Evan Cohen

Projection Design: Janet Bentley

Assistant Director: Michelle Cuizon

Movement: Tatyana Kot


Fight Choreography: Randall Rodriguez

Female U/S: Taylor Graves


Male U/S: Randall Rodriguez

Production Stage Manager: Ali Walensky