Humor has long coloured Anabel Alonso’s career. Yet for Eduardo Galán’s adaptation, she shifts gears to inhabit the iconic Celestina, a production arriving at the Teatro Romea in Murcia this Sunday. Directed by Antonio C. Guijosa, this version blends vitality with rhythm while staying faithful to the timeless material. Although the tale is half a millennium old, the celebrated performer finds parallels with the beloved protagonist and a shared spark across eras.
As someone used to comedy, what did it mean to play Celestina?
It is deeply gratifying because Celestina stands among literature’s great figures. Being a universal, instantly recognizable character is a challenge: every viewer carries a Celestina bias in their mind. In preparation, the actor discovered that the character isn’t as villainous or as solely witchlike as popular belief suggests. She is a vivid, living woman who loves life, relishes fun, and has a keen sense of humor. Celestina is complex—more flesh-and-blood than stereotype would have it—and she shares many traits with people today.
Even though years have passed, he is still a very lively character and the story can be transferred to the present day.
That’s the hallmark of enduring classics. When something survives five centuries, it keeps moving and resonates with new generations. Classics expose humanity’s grand passions, flaws, and virtues. In La Celestina, desire and greed drive much of the action. Despite apparent progress, people still wrestle with similar impulses. The work challenges the notion that Calisto and Melibea are mere archetypes like Romeo and Juliet. They seek love for its own sake and yearn to experience it fully, night after night. Everyone involved bears responsibility for their choices, and the characters are not simply about fate—they are about intent and consequence.
Did you find any similarities between Anabel and Celestina during preparation?
There’s always a thread that ties the actor to the role. The character exudes cheer, a zest for life, and a philosophy of living in the moment. In that era, hardship was thought to heighten future pleasure, a notion Celestina embodies. The performer and Celestina share a conviction: savor the present, because its duration is unpredictable. Pride in one’s craft also links them. Viewers should notice common ground and a sense of identification that goes beyond the surface.
This pleasure depends on your humor.
Life should be met with humor. Celestina carries a sharp wit that helps weather life’s dramas. Laughter becomes a healing agent, a generous antidote to pain and sorrow.
How was the preparation process?
Work on the text progressed gradually to build stage confidence. Extensive research guided the approach, while the aim was to avoid mere imitation of predecessors. A livelier Celestina emerged, one who never pauses for breath during a performance. She gives her all to everyone she encounters. Some inside-the-role crafting helped deepen the character, though the process remained demanding and endlessly fascinating.
“When I decided to dedicate myself to this, I was pleased with the progress. I didn’t think I would fight until now.”
The work has already toured much of Spain. How was the public reception?
The response has been wonderful. Audiences embrace the performance with energy, and theaters often run close to full houses. People are rediscovering La Celestina and savoring the live experience. The mood in the rooms is one of warmth and shared discovery, and that matters deeply to everyone on stage.
He says the halls are full. There will be great satisfaction with the rise of platforms.
There is a real sense of urgency about live theatre amid a crowded entertainment landscape. People crave a communal moment beyond screens. A live performance creates a unique, unrepeatable connection with the audience. It is this human contact that keeps theatre vital and sought after by theatre lovers everywhere.
Going back to his career, he appeared on television in the late eighties. Did I dream that you would experience everything you experienced?
Not at all. Committing to this craft opened doors, and progress came with unexpected twists. The nature of the work means the next project can appear tomorrow or after a year, and that uncertainty is part of the lure. The journey has brought a wealth of experiences that no one could predict at the start.
How do you work through this uncertainty so it doesn’t result in anxiety or stress?
It’s complex, yet there’s a built-in resilience in the profession. The work ethic becomes the anchor. If the phone stays quiet, there’s still purposeful preparation. The actor stays ready, a practical tool in the trade. That autonomy is empowering and sustaining.
Presenter, actress, contestant of some programs, comedian… Is there a side of Anabel that we still don’t know?
She relishes exploring every facet. The art form offers endless variety, so there’s never a dull moment. Nine years of TV work taught her not to fear boredom. In live theater, each audience brings something new, and that discovery keeps the craft thrilling. Boldness has always marked her approach—whether singing, cooking, or acting. The only risk worth taking is not taking a risk at all, because sometimes a bold move yields surprise and progress.