Darling Rom Com at Open Space Arts

Because his body of work is in Catalan and Spanish, most American audiences are not familiar with the works of celebrated Spanish playwright and screenwriter Guillem Clua, but the tiny Open Space Arts is trying to change that with a charming translation of his 2012 play Smiley, which played for several years in Barcelona and has had productions in 30 countries.  It was eventually adapted into a tv series that was released on Netflix in 2022.  

Alex, a bartender in Barcelona whose life is all work, working out and looking for love and sex in the 21st century (there is a monologue with an encylopedic breakdown of the apps available in urban Spain) mistakenly leaves a lengthy post breakup diatribe voicemail for Bruno, an architect he has never met.  They decide to meet in the real world and it’s hate at first sight. But of course, as in classic romantic comedy films, that means they have powerful feelings for one another. Somehow director Jack Dugan Carpenter manages to take us around gay Barcelona’s hot spots as the men’s romance doesn’t and then does take place. Seth Kobs’Alex is filled with yearning for a meaningful relationship despite doing everything to prevent that, and Ayden Lopez’s Bruno (he also plays Bruno’s Argentinian rival) is romantic, needy and flannel shirt wearing and not online. Unlikely couple is putting it mildly. Somehow though we get to a happy ending.  

Open Space is the quintessential neighborhood storefront theatre– there’s no lobby, you step down into the black box from the street, there’s a pole in the middle of the stage and if you need to pee before the 85 minute play begins, go before the show because its actually “backstage” .  To  say it's an intimate space for this love affair to take place in is to understate how up close you are to these talented actors who don’t get any distance from the audience to create their world. It’s inspiring to see  take this theatre take on this important international work. 

Smiley is a delightful snapshot of a world and a time which is fast changing,and this production is entertaining and moving.  Pride month has ended but people are forever looking for love. You only have one more weekend to get to see this show– after an extension the show closes on June 19, 2026

Smiley is playing Thursdays through Sundays at Open Space Arts, 1411 W Wilson in Chicago. For tickets and information go to https://openspacearts.org/smiley

For  reviews go to https://www.theatreinchicago.com/