At the Odyssey Theatre this week, actors and audience members came together for Malice: Stories of Injustice, a bilingual performance designed to amplify the voices of immigrants targeted by federal immigration enforcement. Created by Vivianne Nacif and co-directed by Denise Blasor, the production dramatizes the real experiences of people detained or threatened by ICE, blending English and Spanish storytelling to reflect the lived language of many Angelenos.
The show does more than spotlight injustice. Everyone involved in the production worked for free, offering their time and skills to raise funds for the community. A portion of ticket proceeds were directed to organizations on the front lines, including the Immigrant Defenders Law Center and the Westside Vendor Buyout organized by Mar Vista Voice, which supports local street vendors struggling in the wake of immigration raids. Vendors who once sold fruit, tamales, and other staples on Westside streets have been staying home out of fear, leaving families without income. The buyout program supports vendors directly or purchases their goods for private events, turning community solidarity into material support.
Blasor and Nacif said the inspiration for Malice came from hearing stories of families torn apart and neighbors living in fear. “Silence used to be golden, but now it is complicit,” Blasor told Splash Magazines in a preview of the show. The production combines individual testimonies into composite characters, staging them with stark lighting and minimal props to keep the focus on lived reality.
Following each performance, audience members participated in a talkback led by the Immigrant Defenders Law Center, where an attorney explained the legal landscape for immigrants in Los Angeles. Many who believe they are safe or even have legal status can still be detained, while detention often strips people of basic rights. To further that mission, 80 percent of proceeds from the run are going directly to the legal aid center’s casework.
The remaining proceeds support community mutual aid, including the Westside Vendor Buyout. For organizers at Mar Vista Voice, the link between performance and aid is vital. “When vendors can’t work, entire families go without food or rent,” a spokesperson said. “Community support makes the difference between survival and eviction.”
Theatre critics described the bilingual format as integral, not ornamental. Nacif has emphasized that hearing stories in Spanish “hits another part of the heart,” underscoring how identity and dignity are tied to language. Audience members echoed that sentiment, with some describing the experience as both emotionally draining and galvanizing. For those who attended, Malice was an invitation to bear witness and to act, whether through donations to legal aid, direct support for vendors, or amplifying the stories of neighbors whose voices are too often silenced.