Honestly when I first heard about the plot of Native Gardens, the new play that just opened at Pioneer Theatre Company I was nervous. It’s pretty rare these days I find a modern comedy that is actually funny. Most are so worried about stating a message and checking off social and political boxes that they forget to be funny. It is for this reason I was pleasantly surprised by Native Gardens. It presents 4 characters almost anyone will be able to relate with a script that is witty and unafraid to poke fun at everyone.

Native Gardens is written by Karen Zacarias and this production is directed by Timothy Douglas. It’s a simple story of 2 couples that get into a battle over the correct border of their adjoining properties. At first things are pleasant and cordial and then things get more heated as the dispute escalates. One of the couples, the Del Valles are young, Latino and highly educated who want a natural garden. In contrast, the other couple, the Butleys, are retired career bureaucrats who highly value their carefully curated more traditional gardens.

When Pablo Del Valles realizes their property goes into 2 feet of Frank Butley’s garden the conflict begins. For this kind of simple story it all comes down to the script and the actors. In this case the production at PTC both are strong. Tito Livas and Katya Collazo are fantastic as the Del Valles both working as a believable young couple but having their own individual personalities. Likewise, Michael Kostroff and Kelly Coffield Park are endearing but believable as the older Butleys.

What I appreciated most about Zacarias’ script is she pokes fun at everyone. There are jabs against the old, young, educated, working class, liberals, conservative, democrats, republicans, hippies, lawyers, and everything else. It helps the laughs feel earned when it doesn’t feel preachy or too dogmatic. It also keeps the momentum going when the back-and-forth between the neighbors is hopping.

The scenic design from Jo Winiarski also deserves a lot of praise. Not only are both houses convincingly mounted with very important trees/gardens but the sets are a vital part of the storytelling as the conflict is over those very houses. Production Stage Manager Emily Narcrissa Griffith also does an excellent job making the movement of fences and large flowerbeds quite seamless and easy. It all went off without a hitch.

The only major problem with Native Gardens is I do think the ending feels rushed. The conflict has been escalating to the point that injunctions have been filed and police have been notified, so I don’t think what causes everything to be resolved is particularly realistic. It feels like Zacarias needed an ending because she ran out of time so she just wrapped it all up. Still, for all the good I can accept an imperfect ending.

Native Gardens at PTC is a modern comedy that will actually have you laughing no matter what kind of neighbor you are or garden you have. It is playing through Jan 27th and tickets can be purchased here.