Father-and-son tension in Boni Alvarez’s new play

Earl Alfred Paus (left) plays Danny and Alan Quismorio plays Arnel in Boni Alvarez’s “Driven,” directed by Ely Orquiza. VINCE THOMAS

SAN FRANCISCO — Filipino American playwright Boni Alvarez’s new play “Driven,” to be helmed by director Ely Orquiza, will have its world premiere in a limited three-week engagement by Theatre Rhinoceros in this city.

In the play, an out of work, 30-something, queer, Los Angeles-based actor Danny shelves his career and returns home to the Bay Area because he’s worried about his father Arnel’s drinking and gambling addictions.

Arnel, an immigrant from the Philippines, thinks Danny isn’t doing enough to become successful in his career. He’s also being nosy about Danny’s love life.

What’s a son to do when arguments erupt as parent and offspring confront each other over the past and present? To complicate matters, someone from Danny’s past reappears.

Playing the father-son pairing are Fil-Am actors Alan Quismorio and Earl Alfred Paus, respectively.

Playwright

Most of Alvarez’s plays, such as “America Adjacent,” “Bloodletting,” “Fixed,” “Nicky,” “Dallas Non-Stop,” among others, have been staged in Los Angeles, where he is based.

His plays have been produced at Center Theatre Group-Kirk Douglas Theatre, Echo Theater Company, Coeurage Theatre

Company, Skylight Theatre Company and Playwrights’ Arena.

Earl Alfred Paus plays Danny, a struggling actor. VINCE THOMAS

The character Danny’s homecoming to the Bay Area serves as an interesting parallel to the playwright. “Driven” marks the first time one of his plays will be staged in his hometown.

Director

Fil-Am director Ely Orquiza has been involved in productions at Bindlestiff Studio, Campo Santo, American Conservatory Theater, Magic Theatre, among others.

“I have been a huge fan of Boni’s works, exploring and examining the Filipino diaspora and the Filipino American experience for the American stage!” he says.

“‘Driven’ is such an important story in the intersection of queerness and the arts, and I am so grateful to be working on this world premiere with a stellar cast and wonderful production team.

“It’s so rare to see Filipino American works in the theater, so there’s a hunger for these types of stories to be told and represented onstage. It’s always so refreshing and empowering to be in a roomful of brown artists collaborating to create theater together. It’s so rare to be in that space, so there’s something so magical about it: the authentic comfort, the support, and the joy.”

Actors

Earl Paus studied theater San Francisco State University’s School of Theatre and Dance. Recent performances include productions with Filipino American-led performing arts organizations Bindlestiff Studio and Kularts as well as groups such as Word for Word, San Francisco Mime Troupe, Bay Area Children’s Theatre, Left-Hand Theatre Co., Marin Musical Theatre Company and Landmark Musicals.

Alan Quismorio served as was Co-Artistic Director of Asian American Theater Company (2008-10) and Artistic Director of Bindlestiff Studio from (2011-15). He helped create AlchemySF, the emerging playwrights program at the Jon Sims Center.

Alan Quismorio plays Arnel, an immigrant from the Philippines. VINCE THOMAS

He has performed extensively in the San Francisco Bay Area with groups such as Magic Theatre, Oakland Public Theatre, Brava! Women in the Arts, Shotgun Players and Word for Word.

Other Fil-Ams involved in the production include stage manager Marissa Ampon and student assistant director Vince Marie Cuison.

Founded in 1977, Theatre Rhinoceros is the longest running LGBT theatre in the US. The group’s emphasis is on new works, works about under-represented members of the larger queer community and revivals of lesser known queer classics.

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“Driven” runs Oct. 31-Nov. 17, Spark Arts Gallery, 4229 18th St., San Francisco. TheRhino.org