Firehouse Theater presents a solid production of ‘Guadalupe in the Guest Room’

Something I’ve never considered is the healing power of a Mexican telenovela. According to the play Guadalupe in the Guest Room by Tony Meneses, watching El Amor Nunca Se Olvida or Love is Never Forgotten can move the soul regarding love and unfathomable loss. As presented by Firehouse Theater Company, Guadalupe in the Guest Room is a sparkling gem of a play full of heart currently on stage at Denver’s John Hand Theater.

In front of the TV, we find Steve (Christopher Robin Donaldson) and Guadalupe (Magally Luna) mourning the loss of their wife and daughter Claudia, respectively. Living together and going through difficult times since her death, they have come to an “understanding” while watching a telenovela with a main character — also named Claudia.

Before their eventual truce, Steve and Guadalupe had been at each others’ throats about many things, including fundamental language problems: Steve doesn’t speak Spanish, and Guadalupe doesn’t speak English.

Guadalupe has remained in America following her daughter’s passing and is living with Steve to translate Claudia’s children’s books into Spanish. With the aid of Claudia’s friend and former colleague Raquel (Marissa Joy Leotaud), they painstakingly go through the books individually. But how long is she going to stay, Steve wonders. Soon, Roberto (Phil Luna) is introduced into the mix as a gardener Steve has hired, and he immediately takes a liking to Guadalupe. Feelings surface between Raquel and Steve, leaving Guadalupe confused and angry.

Christopher Robin Donaldson, Magally Luna and Marissa Joy Leotaud | Photo: Soular Radiant

Dealing with loss

Except for the broad humor the recreation of the telenovela brings, the play has serious undertones regarding loss and the grief accompanying it. Both are dealing with loss in their own way. Steve is distant, and Guadalupe has thrown herself into the translation project and often overextends herself through household chores. This includes making Steve’s bed daily, much to his chagrin and anger. Eventually, life goes on, but it is not until the two share the experience of watching Love Is Never Forgotten that they understand how each is processing their grief.

Solid production

Directed by Melissa Lucero McCarl, the production features a strong ensemble cast, starting with Magally Luna as Guadalupe. Her performance resonates with unimaginable grief and, eventually, a level of acceptance. In the role of Steve, the beauty of Donaldson’s performance is how he portrays the character’s transformation from beginning to end. Initially, his pain is palpable but evolves throughout the play to a sense of relief through shared sorrow with Guadalupe.

Both Leotaud and Phil Luna are strong as Raquel and Roberto. Doubling as the actors in the telenovela, they provide comic relief as the over-the-top characters they play on television.

There are a few places where Guadalupe in the Guest Room presents particular challenges. Several minutes into the play, it became apparent that some characters were conversing in Spanish, although the dialogue was in English. Once this was established, the script flowed smoothly without further confusion. McCarl directed the play with a sensitive hand, never casting aspersions on the characters’ feelings. She focused on the relationships in the script, particularly between Steve and Guadalupe, giving the play a strong structure.

Guadalupe in the Guest Room is another winning entry for Fireside Theater Company. Although the play captures a moment of great despair, the script is exceptionally humorous. The play reminds us that loss is a part of life, and how we deal with it is an individual choice. With an engaging script, solid direction and a first-rate ensemble, it plays through April 20 at the John Hand Theater.