Jennifer K Mahal Finding the happiness in...

Jennifer K Mahal

Finding the happiness in Christmas is easy. But for Tiffany Ellen

Solano, and Crissy Guerrero before her, it is the sadness they have

had to search for in playing Gracie, the heroine of “La Posada

Magica” at South Coast Repertory.

“Christmas is a time when I’m filled with joy,” said Guerrero, who

played Gracie from 1995 to 1998 and returns this year as Mariluz.

“Finding the pain at Christmas took searching.”

“La Posada Magica,” which closes its ninth SCR run Tuesday on the

Julianne Argyros Stage, is the musical story of 14-year-old Gracie,

who has lost the Christmas spirit because of the death of her baby

brother. Allowed to stay home from Mass on Christmas Eve, Gracie is

met by a posada -- a traditional procession depicting Mary and

Joseph’s search for shelter before Jesus’ birth.

When members of the posada -- including pregnant Mariluz and

husband Jose -- refuse to blow out the candle lighted for her, she

joins them so she can blow all of their candles out herself.

Misadventures of magical realism follow in this Octavio Solis play

with music by Marcos Loya, but in the end, faith is restored.

Solano, who has played Gracie since 1999, said one of the most

difficult things about the character is getting the audience to

empathize with her, even when she’s bratty and negative.

“The challenge of the role is to make the audience understand

why,” Solano said. “And to make them love you.”

Both women agree that the play, with its message of hope, is a

solace to those who find themselves sad in the holiday season.

“It’s about finding the light in the depths of darkness, finding

good stuff through bad, regaining faith,” Solano said, later adding,

“It feels so warm, so easy to find that faith when you’re up there

[on stage].”

For Guerrero, “La Posada Magica” has extra meaning this year. In

playing the pregnant Mariluz, the actress’ costume doesn’t need

padding. She is five months along in her first pregnancy -- a

mother-to-be playing a version of the Virgin Mary.

“There are elements of the play that didn’t have the same meaning

to me before,” Guerrero said. “Like the urgency of Mariluz.”

Also, she said, it’s been nice to come back to a cast that feels

like family. Even during her hiatus from the production, Guerrero

would come back to see the play.

“She was a part of the family even when she wasn’t here,” Solano

said.