Lawson Taitte

After the first act of Petra's Pecado, you might find yourself thinking it would take a miracle to save the show. After intermission, the miracle happens – and you have the Virgin of Guadalupe to thank for it.

Cara Mia Theatre Company finally opened Rupert Reyes' comedy on Thursday after several postponements. The rescheduling left time for only two performances at the Latino Cultural Center, then two more next week at Fort Worth's Rose Marine Theater.

Originally Petra's Pecado was to be the company's holiday offering. It's not really a Christmas show, though. The plot revolves around a different sort of December religious pageant, one commemorating the traditional feast of Guadalupe. A miraculous visitation to a Mexican peasant named Juan Diego in the early 16th century motivated the construction of a huge church.

Mr. Reyes has written three plays in his series about lovable restaurant owner Petra Dominguez. In Petra's Pecado, his heroine runs off to confess a mysterious big sin to the new parish priest. His highly unusual penance requires her to direct a play; he's trying to get more people involved in the church. Petra has to combat the hostility of a rich donor, who is already trying to drive her out of business, plus the resistance of her husband and elderly friends who hardly know what a play is, let alone how to act in one.

Director Rodney Garza has assembled a cast with a wide range of theatrical experience. His Petra, Irene Gonzales, was the leading lady in the original Austin production. Hector Ivan Bernal as the priest and Lisa Marie Gonzalez as the evil rich lady are also stage savvy, though Ms. Gonzalez rather overdoes the villainy. A number of the other performers are completely new to acting, though, and it shows.

But the real problem is with the aimless meandering of the first act. A group of people who don't know how to put on a play makes difficult material for drama. It doesn't help that Mr. Reyes constantly shifts back and forth between Spanish and English, and his actors don't always speak very clearly, either.

The appearance of a mysterious young woman named Lupita (Valeria Pedromo in the Dallas performances) to help everything and everybody really perks up the second act, however. The character's sweetness underscores the cheerful good nature of Mr. Reyes' world. In fact, the general air of genial good will and forgiveness of others' foibles is right in line with the theme of Petra's Pecado.

• Repeats at 8 tonight at the Latino Cultural Center, 2600 Live Oak.

Also Thursday and March 22 at the Rose Marine Theater, 1440 N. Main, Fort Worth. Runs 100 mins.

$10 to $12. 214-946-9499, www.caramiatheatre.com.

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