Jul 1
Marga Gomez comes full circle: SF’s favorite lesbian comic stars in “The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe” at the Aurora
Adam Sandel READ TIME: 1 MIN.
Marga Gomez has been a beloved fixture of the Bay Area comedy and theater scenes for many years. She now steps into the role made famous by Lily Tomlin in “The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe,” written by Tomlin’s long-time partner Jane Wagner, at Berkeley’s Aurora Theatre Company, from July 12 through August 10.
In a recent phone interview with the Bay Area Reporter, Gomez revealed that her personal connection to the play, and to Tomlin and Wagner, goes back more than 30 years.
“I’d been a Lily and Jane groupie since the ’70s,” said Gomez. “I’d seen the play many times, on Broadway and here in San Francisco. I saw Lily create that whole world on stage and it’s because of her that I dreamed of becoming a solo performer.”
A memorable dinner
Later, the connection between performers grew closer.
“I was living in L.A. in the ’90s, doing my solo show, ‘A Line Around the Block’ at the Mark Taper Forum. My manager Irene Pinn had been Lily’s manager during the ‘Laugh-In’ days, so Lily came to see my show, and invited me to have dinner with her and Jane at their house,” she recalled.
“She picked me up at my crappy apartment and drove me to their house for a Cuban dinner. I thought it might be an exotic home-cooked meal. But it turned out to be take-out.”
Nevertheless, it was a memorable evening of early encouragement for the young Gomez. Thirty years later, the chance to repay the favor and come full circle presented itself when the Aurora’s Artistic Director Josh Costello approached her about an upcoming show.
“Josh and I had talked about working together, and he saw my recent solo show, ‘Swimming With Lesbians.’ He and director Jennifer King were looking for a solo performer, they reached out to me, and I read for the part. It was an old-school audition,” she said.
For Gomez, being cast in the Aurora production of “The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe,” created by her long-time idols Wagner and Tomlin, has brought her full circle.
Making it her own
The challenge of performing the role (actually 12 different roles) that some audience members might still associate with Lily Tomlin doesn’t really phase Gomez.
“I’m already going through the lines and looking for different choices, such as who’s going to be my miserable teenager, and what are the physical characteristics of each role. I don’t want to steal from Lily. I steal from all other kinds of people,” she admitted.
“To have this sacred text in my care is a great honor. When I talk about the play, I talk about Jane’s script, not about Lily performing it. The narrator is an eccentric bag lady, but she’s a visionary. I see her as the creator of all the other characters. I see her character as Jane Wagner speaking. I’m just going with the script and the words,” she said.
A timely tale
Although the play was first performed in 1985, there are elements of the show that Gomez sees as being especially relevant to our time, forty years later.
“The message of the show is about the heart, love, and the need for connection between human beings. The conversations we’re having now is that we need to talk to each other, look up from our phones, and create bonds and new family. Jane Wagner’s foreshadowing of this was very impressive,” she said.
Elements of the play could also be seen to rebuke today’s widespread censorship efforts by right wing activists.
“The MAGA people who are banning books, are now focused on banning works that promote imagination. And this show is all about imagination,” said Gomez.
Aurora will also offer a week of streaming “The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe” performances for audiences to view in their homes. Streaming performances will run concurrently with in-person performances August 5 through 10.
But nothing beats live theater. The thrust stage configuration of the Aurora Theatre may also contribute to the intimacy and effectiveness of the show.
“The seating is three-quarter seating, so it’s a wonderful way to see the show,” said Gomez. “Since it’s about connecting with people regardless of gender and race, it will be an extra good experience.”
‘The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe,’ $27-$30, July 12–Aug. 10, Aurora Theatre Company, 2081 Addison Street, Berkeley. Also streaming Aug. 5-10.
