An Emotional Roller Coaster
Review of Laughs in Spanish at Seattle Repertory Theatre
Written by Michelle Tran during an Arts Criticism workshop at Evergreen High School
In most stories about people of color, the plot is always about how the character struggles as they try to achieve success. Rarely do stories start with a minority character who is already successful and tell us what they have sacrificed for that achievement.
However, Alexis Scheer, a half-Colombian playwright, focused on these perspectives in her play called Laughs in Spanish, an engaging and meaningful play centered on Hispanic characters.
Set in Wynwood, Miami, the play revolves around Mari (Beth Pollack), an art gallery director whose career is threatened when her paintings are stolen the night before her gallery. When her mother, Estella (Diana Burbano), a beloved movie star, arrived unexpectedly, the play was sparked in drama, tension, and emotion while combining with comedic elements. Though it seems chaotic at times, the play is emotionally rich, offering a compelling look at what success costs and what people sacrifice to get there.
As Mari tries to save her art gallery, with the help of her intern Caro (Diana Garle) and Caro’s cop boyfriend Juan (Gabriell Salgado), she’s also forced to face unresolved issues with Estella. Things get more complicated when Jenny (Cheyenne Barton), Estella’s assistant and also Mari’s childhood friend, enters the stage. Through laughter, secrets, and heartwarming moments, Laughs in Spanish explores family, love, dreams, and identity. Each character brings depth and purpose, making the play both engaging and humorous as it flows.
Laughs in Spanish begins with a dark stage with a suspenseful robbery scene. A theatrical figure in a black jumpsuit, sunglasses, and a medical mask sneaks around the stage, gathering paintings. The lighting and movement of the robber create a mix of drama and comedy, engaging the audience right from the start. Although some might argue this opening rushes into the plot’s climax, it sets the story for deeper development. The robbery isn’t the play’s focus; it serves as a catalyst that motivates the characters to put down their walls and understand each other better. This opening motivates the characters’ development, as they scramble through the mystery and the risk this robbery might bring to Mari’s art gallery, the tension rises, the characters are forced to be more honest, and the deeper layers of them are revealed, which makes them real and relatable. In short, this beginning is engaging and purposeful, hooks the audience without interrupting the true purposes of the play.
The play succeeded in its uniqueness of characters, each has their personality, struggles, and goals. Instead of focusing on just one protagonist, the play gives each character space to grow and be heard. Mari, serious and formal in a black suit, initially comes off as sharp-tongued, but her uptightness hides deep loneliness from her mother’s neglect. Estella, a splendid movie star in a stylish turquoise suit, contrasts with her daughter in her outgoingness, raising curiosity about their relationship. Caro, a passionate artist/Mari’s intern, is timid until her boyfriend, Juan, loving and supportive, encourages her to pursue her passion and reclaim her voice. Then we have Jenny, who seems unnecessary, but softens tense moments between Mari and Estella and helps them reconnect. By giving each character a spotlight, the play creates a story that feels layered and diverse, making it easier for audiences to connect on deeper levels.
The play succeeded in creating emotional resonance by connecting meaningful, relatable themes through its characters: love, family, identity, and dreams. Mari and Estella’s broken relationship explores the cost of success for women of color. Estella isn’t a bad mother, she’s just a woman torn between her identity and societal expectations as she pursues her career. Her success as a Latina movie star causes her to be seen as neglectful, something Mari struggles to forgive. Their story reveals the price women pay to succeed and reflects the harsh expectations for mothers to sacrifice their dreams to prioritize family. Meanwhile, Juan and Caro challenge the stereotypical gender roles. Juan is more emotional, supporting Caro’s passion with sincerity and respect. When he says, “Whatever you wanna do, I support you,” while seriously looking at Caro, he meant it, and even if her decisions might not be what he desires, he still respects them. Caro and Jenny’s journeys as they pursue their passion further explore how self-doubt comes in as dreams are defeated by harsh reality. Caro questions, “Who is the artist actually serving?” and Jenny wonders, “What am I doing with my life?” show their doubts about their dreams in the creative industry. Through these characters, the play validates the uncertainty many people face and reminds them they’re not struggling alone.
Laughs in Spanish is a compelling, heartwarming play that blends comedy with themes of love, family, and identity. With relatable characters, smooth scene transitions, and bilingual dialogues, it’s both entertaining and thought-provoking. If you enjoy sitcom-style stories with emotional depth, catch it at Seattle Repertory Theater, running through May 17th.
Lead photo: Gabriell Salgado, Diana Burbano, and Diana Garle in Laughs in Spanish (2025). Lighting Design by Robert J. Aguilar. Photo by Bronwen Houck.
The TeenTix Press Corps promotes critical thinking, communication, and information literacy through criticism and journalism practice for teens. For more information about the Press Corps program see HERE.
This review was written as part of an Arts Criticism workshop at Evergreen High School in Emily Acquino’s Language Arts classes, taught by Press Corps teaching artist Jose Abaoag. This program is supported, in part, by a grant from the Washington State Arts Commission.
