Review: ‘Sanctuary City’ by Harlequin Productions

Rachel Benton

The posters around town announce that Harlequin Productions is presenting "Our Town" in repertory with "Sanctuary City."

If you have even a passing familiarity with either play, you can begin to appreciate the depth of this juxtaposition. Yet, no one can fully grasp the power of their contrast until you experience each performance, with only a short time between them. 

Last week, my review of “Our Town” described the sort of comforting, almost “Andy Griffith Show” meets “It’s a Wonderful Life” sensibility. It offers one version of the “American experience,” rooted in a very specific time and place, that is adorable and quaint.

“Sanctuary City,” set a century later, is its near opposite in just about every respect.  

Harlequin Productions and I both want you to recognize, however, that despite their vastly different time periods, these two visions of the American experience can — and absolutely should — be compared. The reason is poignant: In life, we all take things for granted. In America, it can be especially easy to lose sight of the privileges of citizenship and the doors it opens. 

• Gone to college? How did you pay for it? With scholarships, grants, or loans? In Washington state, Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA) offers financial aid to students ineligible for federal aid because of their immigration status, but WASFA isn't Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and comparable options aren't available in every state. What happens when you have big dreams and career ambitions, but cannot afford an education? The American Dream becomes far less accessible, to say the least. 

• Got married? For heterosexual couples, the freedom to choose whom you love is often taken for granted. For LGBTQ+ couples, the government’s role in recognizing their relationships has been tumultuous, to put it mildly. Now add citizenship to the equation. Movies like "The Proposal" turn marrying for immigration purposes into comedy, but the reality can be nerve-racking and complicated. What is at stake is far more serious than a romantic misunderstanding or getting a trivia question about your partner wrong: mistakes or violations can carry severe legal and financial consequences.  

• Say you have an abusive member of the household. Calling child or adult protective services is always complicated for citizens, but can you imagine how it feels for people without citizenship? The risks are greater than vengeance … both the guilty and the innocent can be deported.   

These discussions and more are brought to life in “Sanctuary City.”  

Again, the contrasts between “Our Town” and “Sanctuary City” are powerful. If you can, try to experience them both in one day. Learn more about how you can do that here.   

The review 

The script for this show is astonishing. Its scattered, recurring dialogue demands the cast remain sharp and attentive at every moment. Add the emotional complexity woven throughout, and the challenge becomes even more impressive. My hat goes off to this incredibly talented cast for navigating it all and making something so demanding look utterly natural and effortless. 

Kai Sale truly took my breath away. Fully inhabiting his character, Sale adopted a remarkably authentic physicality that felt true to the script, communicating deep emotion not only through his movements but through his eyes. It was a level of emotional sophistication that rivaled and, in my experience, surpassed performances I’ve seen from many older, more seasoned actors. It was very fresh, and Sale has every reason to be proud of this work. 

Karissa Chin has just as much to be proud of. Her character is deeply reserved, yet carries a wealth of emotion the audience must somehow see and feel. Balancing the need to remain a closed book with the need to reveal vulnerability, to feel real and raw, is no easy feat. Chin navigates that delicate tension with remarkable skill. 

Ramiro Della Montanyo’s role demands just as much of him. It is an impressive balancing act, requiring him to navigate emotional complexity and shifts in feeling and attitude that can happen in seconds. It was quite a performance.  

I want to leave you with two final thoughts:  

First, a word of caution. If you are sensitive to lighting, experience light-triggered migraines, or have a condition, such as epilepsy, please proceed with care. The show incorporates lighting effects during its first two-thirds that may affect some audience members. 

Second, after the performance, someone told me, “I didn’t like this show ... it just made me really melancholy.” I replied, “I don’t think we’re necessarily meant to 'like' it. Seeing people go through these terrible circumstances should make us sad. I think we’re meant to appreciate the artistry poured into it, but we need to hear the sobering truth.” This person completely agrees and applauds this show right alongside me!  

"Sanctuary City" isn't an easy show to watch, and it shouldn't be, but I believe everyone should experience it at least once. Click here to get your tickets to “Sanctuary City.” 

Rachel is a writer, arts advocate, performing arts enthusiast, and passionate about our beloved Thurston County. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in History and Political Science and a minor in Music. You can enjoy more of Rachel's writings by visiting her website. All inquiries for Rachel can be submitted here.