Buenos Aires is currently showcasing a vibrant theater scene, with some of last year's most acclaimed plays coinciding on Tuesdays. Theatergoers have a unique opportunity to experience a diverse range of performances, from Shakespearean adaptations to contemporary dramas. According to Carolina Liponetzky (2024), writing for ámbito.com, the plays «Medida por medida (La culpa es tuya)», «Suavecita», «El sonido», «Parlamento», and «Reverso» are among the must-see productions currently running.
A Tuesday Theater Extravaganza
Several outstanding plays that debuted last year are continuing their runs due to their popularity and critical acclaim. These productions offer a mix of genres and themes, ensuring there's something for every theater enthusiast.
«Medida por medida (La culpa es tuya)»
Gabriel Chame Buendía's adaptation of Shakespeare's «Measure for Measure» premiered last year at the Regio theater, produced by the CTBA, and is now playing at the Politeama. Buendía continues his exploration of Shakespeare through physical theater, using a precise and playful language that prioritizes entertainment over realistic accuracy. As Liponetzky (2024) notes, Buendía «attempts not to stray from his clown work, nor does he destroy the play, but rather translates it, striving to respect the story and Shakespeare's poetic imagery.» The performances are designed to be hilarious, with talented actors fully embracing the director's vision. The production features visual gags and a convergence of image and sound, presenting a dark and comedic story that resonates with contemporary political themes. «Medida por medida» delves into the complexities of Shakespeare's mature period, offering a bitter and sinister comedy with laughter serving as a grimace. Performances are scheduled for today at 8 PM.
«Suavecita»
Martín Bontempo's «Suavecita,» starring Camila Peralta, has become a popular and critical success. The play tells the story of a single mother who discovers she possesses a miraculous gift that could improve her daughter's life. This off-Broadway hit, which sold out performances at Nun last year, has now moved to Calle Corrientes. The one-woman show explores the world of science and traditional medicine in a public hospital on the outskirts of the city, with Peralta portraying multiple characters in a narrative filled with eroticism, science fiction, and mystery. Peralta’s character is unique, with a distinct way of speaking, thinking, and communicating. According to Liponetzky (2024), the play «combines two worlds, blending a very marginal and earthly personal situation with another of magic or fantasy and science fiction, which she begins to inhabit.» «Suavecita» is playing at the Metropolitan at 8:30 PM.
«El Sonido»
Javier Daulte's «El Sonido» delves into the intricacies of the human psyche, exploring themes of madness, solitude, faith, truth, and family relationships. Maternal and paternal figures heavily influence the characters, who grapple with spectral presences. In the play, a Norwegian man claims to possess all the words in human history within a briefcase, believing it holds the truth. A political candidate becomes obsessed with this briefcase, while the Norwegian insists that its sounds are affecting Berta, a young woman who hears the voice of her deceased mother. According to Liponetzky (2024), «science at the service of power and the ambition to dominate the world» are central themes. Daulte uses misunderstandings to create hilarious scenes, ultimately revealing the story of three siblings, their depressive mother, and their neglectful father, leading the youngest daughter to cling to her mother's voice. The production features humor, a minimalist set design emphasizing external sounds, and talented performances by Lu Grasso, William Prociuk, Paula Manzone, Silvina Katz, Marcelo Pozzi, Agustín Meneses, María Villa, and Ramiro Delgado. «El Sonido» is playing at Espacio Callejón at 8 PM and has received nominations for best alternative play, director, and acting.
«Parlamento»
«Parlamento,» the latest collective creation by “Piel de lava,” merges theater and politics with humor and wit. The group, consisting of Pilar Gamboa, Elisa Carricajo, Laura Paredes, and Valeria Correa, gained recognition with “Petróleo,” where they portrayed four men in a Patagonian oil field. Now, they are doubling down with “Parlamento,” infusing a political debate from beyond the grave with their unique theatricality. From the gestures used to create intergalactic congresswomen to the use of sound with musician Zypce, who acts as a DJ, the play offers a rich exploration of politics. According to Liponetzky (2024), “Parlamento” offers «an approach to politics that is both hilarious and distressing.» The play explores contemporary political discourses, inspired by debates in European parliaments. Gamboa plays a politician from Spain, Carricajo from Italy, Correa from Brazil, and Paredes from Venezuela. The play delves into the staging of parliamentary debates, highlighting the offensive gestures and personal attacks that often replace substantive discussion. The production uses dystopia to comment on the present, creating a future governed by artificial intelligence. «Parlamento» is playing at El Picadero at 8 PM.
«Reverso»
Matías Feldman's «Reverso» is in its second season, exploring the metaverse, where museums, virtual artworks, concerts, jobs, homes, and relationships exist. Starring Carla Peterson, Marco Antonio Caponi, Nicolás García Hume, Diego Cremonesi, Emilia Claudeville, and Juan Isola, the play revolves around a generation living in the metaverse, blurring the lines between virtual and real. According to Liponetzky (2024), «Reverso» questions the truth of this reality through a series of looping and re-versioned scenes, offering different alternatives to reality or constructing infinite versions of a truth. The play features absurdity, pain, and distorted reality, with characters who are avatars escaping into the metaverse. «Reverso» is a deep and absurd work, designed for those interested in exploring the new digital world. It is playing at La Plaza at 8 PM.
