The Iguana Becomes Marco

The Iguana Becomes Marco
La Mama
Experimental Theatre Club
April 1, 2026 

Photo courtesy of The Iguana Becomes Marco

The Iguana Becomes Marco is a wild, psychological journey, filled with unexpected twists, turns, and fascinating characters.  Writer/Director Booth McGowan is fully in control of every bizarre occurrence.  He grounds each moment in realistic images, then turns them on their head to keep the audience engaged and thinking.  The cast is fully committed, which allows the audience to experience the journey on numerous levels. 

When you enter the small studio space, there is a young man tied to a chair center stage, and deep, eerie music played on the viola (by Georges Mefleh).  You become immediately drawn in… and curious.  As the lights dim an overly masculine character enters, circles the young man in the chair, then sits across from him.  There is a long silence. 

Luke Wisniewski as The Iguana
Photo courtesy of The Inguana Becomes Marco

The dialogue begins.  Marco, the young man tied to the chair (played by Marco Quesada), tells the Detective, the overly masculine character (played by Bobby Cole), that in his dream the Iguana becomes him.  He did not become the Iguana.  The Iguana became him.  What follows is Marco’s encounter with the Iguana (played by Luke Wisniewski). Marco tells the Detective how he ended up locked in his uncle’s garage in Florida with the Iguana, then killed his uncle. 

Marco Quesada delivers his monologues straight and calm, while everything happening around him is absurd and over the top.  The contrast is stunning, keeping the audience focused on the events of the story, while being fully engulfed in Marco’s state of mind.  Luke Wisniewski creates the character of the Iguana with exceptional physical agility and vocal skill.  The timing between him and Mr. Quesada is perfect.

Luke Wisniewski & Marco Quesada
Photo courtesy of The Iguana Becomes Marco

Booth McGowan plays Maximilian, the silly Police Officer who assists the Detective in his investigation.  Maximilian’s bumbling antics plays brilliantly against the bravado that Bobby Cole brings to the character of the Detective.  This juxtaposition keeps the action moving at an accelerated pace, until Lucinda Dunham enters as Marceline, and the pace and tone dramatically shift.  Marco previously told the Detective that he had a date with Marceline, but she stood him up.  Yet… here she is, in a clingy, sexy gown, ready to be escorted to an expensive jazz club.  Ms. Dunham flows in and commands the stage.  She and Mr. Quesada have excellent chemistry.  Jason Hoover saves the day as Jimmy, Marco’s friend from NYC.  His energy level is high.  He dominates the scene with his broad and quicky characterization.

The Iguana Becomes Marco is playing at La Mama through April 5.  It is a unique piece of theatre that needs to be experienced firsthand. 

Domenick Danza