Laurice Guillen turns in luminous portrayal

We enjoy channel-surfing because we love surprises—unexpectedly diverting or moving TV moments that we would otherwise miss, if we stuck to a regular viewing schedule.

Last week, we got another bonus treat when we happened to catch “Real Confessions” on TV5. The episode, about a grandmother who was determined to learn how to read and write, turned out to be a memorable viewing experience, thanks to the beautifully focused and believable characterization turned in by Laurice Guillen as a no-read, no-write lola.

At first, people familiar with Laurice’s past roles and persona would think that she is miscast as an illiterate grandmother. But they wouldn’t be factoring in the experienced actor-writer-director’s ability to so fully empathize with a wide range of people that she’s able to make the implausible come to pass. Add to this her depth and versatility, and the TV drama’s success is assured.

People who want to learn how to act well should pay close attention to Laurice’s portrayal on “Real Confessions”: She still looks pretty much the same, but her attitude has changed. She has striven to empathetically understand how an illiterate mother and grandmother would feel about her inability to communicate, and has thus simplified her character’s view of life to focus mostly on that major limitation, and the negative effect it has on her feelings of self-worth.

The members of her family think that it’s a shameful secret that should continue to be hidden from public view, but the grandmother isn’t focused on shame, she’s bent on making up for lost time, even if it means becoming her granddaughter’s classmate in Grade 1, and being derided by the people around her, including the members of her own family.

In focusing so firmly on the lola’s driving need, the actress effortlessly drops all of her “signature” moves and creates a character very different from herself.

This is the hallmark of fine acting— not the ability to impressively break down, shout and otherwise “go dramatic,” and the sooner acting students learn it from masterful exponents like Laurice, the better off they’ll be.

Unfortunately, while the actress was luminously moving and insightful in her portrayal, she was surrounded by lesser talents who looked even more awkward and mawkish when they shared scenes with her. The little girl who played her granddaughter was okay, but most everybody else failed to measure up, and ended up looking quite inept.

The poorest coactors were the three or four “talents” who played the lola’s shiftless sons and other relatives, who scoffed at her determination to become literate. It was quite amazing to see the actress still focusing firmly on the scene’s objective, despite their lack of support.

In the future, when the show casts somebody of proven worth and stature in a key role, it should make it a point to surround him or her with correspondingly creditable talents, so the drama comes off as an integral production. Otherwise, the lesser talents’ limitations are exaggerated all the more—not a pretty sight on the appropriately named boob tube!