The work “A lame soul” kicked off this year’s billboard The Municipal Comedy in the city of La Plata. From this premiere, a season of free and open theater for all audiences is unleashed in the city, starring the local artists who won the 2022 Municipal Comedy Contest.
The opening play of the season is significant. “A lame soul” It is dedicated to Almafuerte, a frustrated teacher, painter and poet, a man from La Plata who earned his fame posthumously. Represented in the former house of the artist, now converted into the Almafuerte Museumthe play tries to “bring a part of Almafuerte’s life closer to the people of La Plata,” says Gerardo Ventrice, its director, in conversation with Buenos Aires 12.
Before being selected, Gerardo hardly knew the history of Almafuerte. Now, he thinks that his figure is very easy to identify with, especially for artists. “For me Almafuerte’s life is like the lyrics of the song La cicada, by María Elena. He could never carry out those desires to be recognized that he had. So he leaves and abandons himself, and dies. That’s what he wants show the work, in a poetic way. Above all, what does the name tell us about us; that signature: Almafuerte”, he affirms.
“What’s the use of knowing my name, if I’m not going to be recognized?” says Gerardo, wondering about his nickname the poet, less known by his real name, Pedro Bonifacio Palacios. A lifelong Buenos Aires native, he was born in The slaughter on May 13, 1854 and died in At payment on February 28, 1917.
Since the premiere was on the anniversary of the poet’s death, Gerardo notes that there was an “extra adrenaline rush.” “Almafuerte is considered one of the “six wise men” of the city of At payment. Being able to make a work of him, being able to digest all his processes and being able to translate it into a theatrical artistic work seemed to me an important commitment, with the city and with the figure of the poet”, he affirms.
“One feels identified with his life. One wants to give up, to leave art. And there is something that keeps pulling you. I think that is called passion. Any artist is going to feel identified with Almafuerte. Frustration is something with what we have to fight for every day”, affirms the director of the play.
Leandro Jose veron he shouldered the difficult task of embodying the tortured soul of the poet and teacher in the one-man show, interpreting the character surrounded by the scenery of Magalí Armas. The staging is doubly significant, since it takes place in the Almafuerte Museum, where the last days of Pedro B. Palacios passed.
“People come in and start to do the guided tour, and at one point, Almafuerte bursts in. Dynamically, we thought it was good, people were very surprised,” he says. In it Almafuerte Museum Manuscripts, photographs, drawings, books, newspapers, writings about his work, furniture and other objects that were part of the poet’s life are exhibited. The house was declared a Historic Monument of the City, the Province and the Nation, as a fair tribute to the artist and promotes the consolidation as public heritage of the place where his humanistic and literary action was captured.
Although the call was for 20 people, since the museum has limited capacity, 35 entered. The goal of the Ministry of Culture and Education to bring La Plata culture to the public is having an effect.
“We are very happy to start the year by promoting a theatrical cycle for all audiences, rooted in La Plata, with original works, directed and performed by local artists,” said the Secretary of Culture and Education, Martiniano Ferrer Picado.
The presentations prepared as part of the 2022 Municipal Comedy Contest will be arranged in three thematic circuits represented by prestigious local playwrights and directors: the La Plata Historical Memorythe one of the Childhood and the Alternative.
In addition to the Almafuerte Museum, other stories about La Plata roots can be seen in the Podestá Coliseum, the Dardo Rocha and Almafuerte museums, and the Islas Malvinas cultural center.
With limited seats and delivery of locations half an hour before the start of the show, the public can attend to see A lame soul on Saturdays March 4, 11, 18 and 25 at 7:00 p.m., in the Almafuerte Museumlocated at Calle 66 Nº 530 between 5 and 6.
