THE REFUGEE HOTEL by Carmen Aguirre (Alameda Theatre/Theatre Passe Muraille). To October 4. See Continuing. Rating: NNNN
In The Refugee Hotel, Carmen Aguirre lays bare the passions and heartaches of Chileans forced to flee the 1973 military coup.
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Set in a Vancouver hotel housing the newly arrived Chileans, the moving, often engrossing play paints rich portraits of eight refugees: some tortured, some fearful, all defiant.
Focusing on Jorge, his wife, Flaca, and their children Manuelita and Joselito, Aguirre shows the tense demands that arise from political arguments, love and conflicting ideologies.
The story, played out on Trevor Schwellnus’s multi-level set, reaches beyond the family all the Chileans argue vehemently about their situation, yet realize they’re linked by a common experience. Moments of human comedy leaven the situation.
Director Aguirre draws many fine performances from the large cast, which includes Terrence Bryant, Leanna Brodie, Salvatore Antonio and Paloma Nuñez.
Not all the elements work: Paula Rivera and Osvaldo Sepulveda aren’t entirely convincing as the youngsters, though Rivera makes an impact as the grown-up Manuelita.
The show’s anchor is the resonant work of Juan Carlos Velis and Beatriz Pizano as Jorge and Flaca. They give The Refugee Hotel its beating heart.
This is a production to catch for its theatrical strengths and historic insights, but also because it puts Canadian Latin American artists centre stage.
A triumphant debut for Alameda Theatre.
