• HIGHLIGHTS •
"A good review from the critics is just another stay of execution" Dustin Hoffman
"The production has been blessed, too, with a beguiling central performance by Guenia Lemos... Matilde proves to be a delightfully unorthodox guide through this story of wounds and healing, and Lemos brings an ethereal appeal to her portrayal; her Matilde feels somehow both grounded and guileless."
"It's the seductive Charlotte who makes her face-time with Greg count, and Lemos brings an energy to her limited-time part that promises big things for the Brazilian-born pepperpot."
"Guenia Lemos, a tall, coltish stunner who bears a striking resemblance to Julia Roberts--but is completely in control of the stage.”
"Ms. Lemos who has perfected the role of the Brazilian housekeeper, who wants to be a stand up comic and hates cleaning, nearly steals the show. To steal a show from this is no mean achievement, but her flawless timing that allows her to tell jokes in Portuguese that are funnier than most of what you hear in English, gives you an idea of the breadth of her talents. If ever an audience could fall for a reluctant cleaning lady, this is the one."
"The ensemble cast is terrific. Guenia Lemos' Matilde is infectious as the woman bringing life via humor into what amounts to a tomb-like space. Ms. Lemos' line delivery and expressions belie her drab, black outfit and add an orphan child aspect to her character."
"Guenia Lemos strongly projects Helen's anger and sincerity. Whether or not Helen deserves our belief, Lemos appropriately makes certain that she gets it."
"Charlotte, played by Guenia Lemos, is a restless soul desperate for passion in her life, in love with love, and the stunning Lemos is more than up to the task... The cast’s collective chemistry and sense of humor are what make the production sail."
"... the play opens up with a young woman (Guenia Lemos) telling a joke in Portuguese...
The laughs come from in not what she’s saying, but how she’s saying it. Matilde - a cute maid from Brazil - instantly captures the audience’s attention with her animated storytelling and body language... Lemos is absolutely refreshing as Matilde. She brings youthful innocence to the play, which often deals with the not-so-great trappings of reality.
"Lemos makes Helen's transition from semi-invisible servant to savvy seductress a smooth and engaging journey (let's see more of her)."
"Guenia Lemos performs with an easy and likeable sensuality. Given that Charlotte is most coldly selfish, Lemos has to perform with tremendous appeal to enable us to accept Greg's temptation."
"It begins with a superb short vignette in which Guenia Lemos, as the Brazilian girl paid to clean but who is much more interested in "finding the perfect joke," tells the audience a joke in Portuguese, while the projected surtitle simply says "Matilde Tries To Tell The Perfect Joke." The scene could bomb if it weren't for the infectious spirit shining in Lemos' eyes. She's so compelling, and her faith in the humor of her story so apparent, that the audience laughs at the punch line without the slightest idea of what it is all about. What it is about is the magic of theater and that short scene uncaps wonders."
"Lemos was especially good in transforming herself from bombshell Fernanda to sleazy director Fred and finally to wheelchair-bound Nonna."
"... elicit the most comfortable of chuckles, thanks to Guenia Lemos’ irrepressible Matilde, whose candid observations keep us safely oriented from her first words (recounting a funny—and probably bawdy—story in a language we may not understand, but applaud heartily, nonetheless)"
"... it’s Guenia Lemos who truly manages to deliver the most transcendent turn as a Guatemalan maid who has a lot more going on in her pretty head than she lets on. Her dead-on comic timing alone is worth a visit."
"Lemos infuses Matilde with charisma... the collective performances of this gifted cast will have you in the palms of their rubber-gloved hands."
“Guenia Lemos... expertly shows just enough contempt for her employers for them not to notice.”
In the opening monologue, Guenia Lemos, as Matilde, stands on a stark stage and tells a joke to the audience in Portuguese. Even though it is impossible to understand a word she is saying, Lemos had the audience in stitches. Her performance was delicate and Lemos avoided the easy choice of making Matilde a cardboard stereotypical maid we so often see.
"The glue that holds all these elements together is in the character of a housemaid named Matilde, beautifully played by Guenia Lemos, a Brazilian actress making her Chicago debut. This challenging role should establish her as a strong part of Chicago's theater scene."
"Lemos is so unbelievably charming that she manages to garner laughs even when speaking to the audience in Portugese."
"... as you learn more about Charlotte you realize how deftly Ms. Lemos plays her."
"... an impeccable cast serve the play's hot-wired emotional turns as if they were plugged in directly... Matile, played with beguiling and charismatic naturalness by Woolly newcomer Guenia Lemos..."
"Guenia Lemos is vibrant as Matilde."
"Matilde is handled with just the right touch by Guenia Lemos, a Brazilian actress who makes her Chicago debut in this powerful role... FYI—the jokes are told in a combination Spanish/Portuguese and while there are subtitles for some of the dialog, there are not for the jokes—funny thing is, Ms Lemos is so good at telling the jokes, they are hysterical even if you don't understand the words at all. Just be prepared to see five of the finest actors have a great time and keep you in stitches."
"... a perfectly appointed cast plucked from the heavens, 'The Clean House' features a round of honest, intelligent performances from an ensemble of five first-rate actors. Guenia Lemos is a charming 'Machilgee'..."