‘You Are Cordially Invited to the End of the World!‘ is a droll take on one man coming to terms with his mortality at South Coast Repertory.
South Coast Repertory presents the 2025 world premiere of ‘You Are Cordially Invited to the End of the World‘ by Keiko Green, directed by Zi Alikhan. Cast: (lt to rt) Sharon Omi (Janet/Others), Alysia Reiner (Viv), Anna LaMadrid (Lila/Others), Joel de la Fuente (Greg), River Gallo (M) and Rafael Goldstein (Will/Others). Segerstrom Stage, from now – May 3, 2025.
‘You Are Cordially Invited to the End of the World!‘ promises a dark comedy, and while it certainly fulfills the “dark” part of that equation, the comedy, while present is subtle, droll, and more existential smirk than full-on belly laugh. I came in expecting something a bit more irreverent, maybe even absurd. What I got instead was a surprisingly moving, at times unsettling meditation on climate grief, family, and how we make meaning when we know the end is coming.
But even with my expectations for ‘You Are Cordially Invited to the End of the World!‘ not met, this world premiere play from Keiko Green manages to strike an intriguing balance between despair and beauty, between the cold embrace of nihilism and a flickering, desperate kind of hope. It’s not always comfortable, but that’s exactly what makes it feel urgent.
South Coast Repertory’s production under the direction of Zi Alikhan leans into this discomfort and builds something strangely magical out of it. Joel de la Fuente as Greg is the heart of the piece, capturing the slow unraveling of a man who finds purpose in the worst of news as in his final days decides that in order to save his soul, he must save the planet. Incidentally, I found myself rooting for his terminal illness once he started to take a specific young, illiterate, eco-activist seriously, who spent more time on private planes and ships instead of the classroom.
Alysia Reiner brings fierce emotional clarity to Viv, Greg’s wife, who tries to savor each remaining moment with both grace and grit. River Gallo’s M is a fascinating, shape-shifting emcee through it all acting as narrator, philosopher, witness, and survivor. Rafael Goldstein, Anna LaMadrid, and Sharon Omi expertly juggle multiple roles, each performance distinct and grounded, never once feeling like filler or background.
South Coast Repertory presents the 2025 world premiere of ‘You Are Cordially Invited to the End of the World‘ by Keiko Green, directed by Zi Alikhan. River Gallo as M on the Segerstrom Stage, from now – May 3, 2025.
The Segerstrom Stage doesn’t just hold the play, it morphs into its own character. The design is dynamic and immersive, often behaving like an uncredited cast member, mirroring emotional beats and shifting like a living thing. Whether through light, movement, or negative space, the physical world of this production feels responsive, like it’s listening to the characters, stripping away the scenery as Greg inches his way to his final breath. It’s a rare feat to have a set feel so narratively alive, and it elevates the entire experience.
The laughs in ‘You Are Cordially Invited to the End of the World!‘ may be sparse, but when they come, they feel honest and earned. And maybe that’s more valuable than comedy for comedy’s sake.
South Coast Repertory (under Artistic Director David Ivers and Managing Director Suzanne Appel) continues to prove it’s a vital home for new, ambitious work. With You Are Cordially Invited to the End of the World!, they’ve mounted a production that’s equal parts theatrical event and philosophical inquiry—messy, moving, and unmistakably of this moment.
Green’s script may not have delivered the humor I was anticipating, but her voice is powerful, unflinching, and undeniably of this moment. Green earned her finalist status for the prestigious Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, explores huge ideas including: mortality, ecological collapse, generational trauma, without ever losing sight of its human center. South Coast Repertory, under Artistic Director David Ivers and Managing Director Suzanne Appel, once again proves why it’s a home for bold new work with this world premiere.
Is it funny? Occasionally. Is it unforgettable? Definitely.
‘You Are Cordially Invited to the End of the World!‘ runs from now through May 3, 2025 at South Coast Repertory.
To purchase tickets for ‘You Are Cordially Invited to the End of the World!‘ visit: www.scr.org or call the box office,
(714) 708-5555.
South Coast Repertory is located at:
655 Town Center Dr.
Costa Mesa, CA 92628
Summary
A darkly poetic journey through the end of one man’s days, ‘You Are Cordially Invited to the End of the World!‘ finds unexpected hope in humanity’s messiest moments. More humorous than hilarious, it’s a refreshing take on storytelling through inventive theatricality.
