Returning to the Cat's House: A Necessary Family Portrait

The play "Volver a la casa de la gata" (Return to the Cat's House) presents a poignant family portrait centered around Pedro, a patriarch confined to a wheelchair after a stroke. Despite his physical limitations, Pedro retains his sharp wit, booming laugh, and a deep love for singing boleros. He insists to his children, Dimas and Josué, that he can still manage on his own, while they, concerned for his well-being, hire a nurse, Celeste, to care for him.

Pedro spends his days under the care of his children and nurse, but he deeply misses his daughter Serena, who migrated to Australia seeking a better future. His insistence on not being a burden clashes with his children's perception of his incapacity. This internal conflict is amplified by his melancholy and grief over the loss of his wife, Concepción, which previously led him to attempt suicide. Now, his physical dependence places the family at a crossroads: should Pedro remain at home under his children's constant care, or should he be moved to a nursing home?

Once the family's decision-maker, Pedro now finds himself resigned to his children's choices regarding his future. The siblings constantly debate the pros and cons of placing their father in a facility called "El último camino" (The Last Path). The central question lingers: is institutionalizing an elderly loved one truly the best course of action?

Ultimately, Pedro's deepest desire is to return to "la casa de la gata," a brothel where he spent his adolescence after fleeing his hometown for Caracas. It was there, surrounded by women who helped shape his character, that he grew into the man who would later build a family. In his old age, his fondest dream is to revisit this place of happiness. His children, meanwhile, strive to do what they believe is best for him, mirroring the complex dynamics often found in families navigating difficult care decisions.

Written by Ramón Suárez Árab and directed by Jayler Romero, "Volver a la casa de la gata" is currently in its second season at the Trasnocho Cultural, following a successful premiere. The play's final weekend is scheduled for June 12, 13, and 14.