BROOKFIELD — Magical realism is a term often associated with fiction and other pieces of art that present a realistic story with magical elements, often blending the two together. Playwright Jose Rivera’s Cloud Tectonics is a shining example of this genre of writing. A wonderful new production of Rivera’s work is currently being performed at Brookfield Theatre for the Arts under the direction of Jared Reynolds.

Rivera studied writing under the king of magical realism, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, most noted for his novel One Hundred Years of Solitude. Rivera uses this style of writing in Cloud Tectonics to explore love. What it means to love and how love can transcend time and space, in this case, literally.

The play opens with a seemingly young pregnant woman named Celestina del Sol (played by Anastasia Nardone) hitchhiking in the pouring rain. She is picked up by LAX luggage handler Anibal de la Luna (Andres Idrovo Castillo). They return to his Los Angeles apartment, where it is revealed Celestina is not as young as she seems and has been searching for the man who got her pregnant, apparently two years ago.

This is where the magical elements come into play. Time seemingly stops inside Anibal’s apartment, while time in the world around them rapidly speeds up.

Anibal’s brother, Nelson (Aaron Kaplan) makes a short visit to catch up with his brother only to return minutes later (or so it seems to Anibal) as a much older veteran. Through a series of non-linear scenes the trio learns that all anyone truly has is the eternal now.

Anastasia Nardone plays Celestina with a youthful innocence, yet is knowingly sorrowful, which makes her unbelievable statements ring true. This is a role that could, in less capable hands, appear to be simply a crazy drifter stereotype, but Nardone manages to bring a beautiful grounding to the character. Her chemistry is palpable with Andres Idrovo Castillo.

Castillo plays Anibal with such earnestness and enchantment, the audience is heartbroken when the character starts to descend into madness, struggling to figure out what is real. Castillo has a few monologues throughout the show that really help the audience understand who he is as a person. One standout concerns trauma he suffered as a young child. Castillo has the audience at the edge of their seats with his delivery.

Audiences are always delighted to see Aaron Kaplan on stage. He skillfully disappears into every role he inhabits, and Anibal’s brother Nelson is no exception. While Nelson is the smallest part in the three-person play, it is one of the most important and interesting. Kaplan portrays Nelson with commanding ease.

Director Reynolds has done a magnificent job bringing this larger than life, yet completely grounded story of love to life.

Audiences can also always count on first rate set design from the team of Andy Okell and Bob Lane. The attention to detail, including the actual rain pouring down along the apartment window, brings the audience right into the middle of the storm.

Brookfield Theater for the Arts should be commended for taking a chance on such an unusual and thought provoking play. It’s not every day that local audiences get to take in such an interesting and entertaining piece of theater. This is definitely not one to miss.

Performances of Cloud Tectonics continue to May 9. Tickets and other information can be found at brookfieldtheatre.org.