After a fascinating introduction from Founding Artistic Director, José Cheo Oliveras telling the story of how Teatro Círculo was established with the incredible support of Councilmember Margarita López (who happened to be in the audience) we were ready for the opening night performance of their latest show. An almond tree, made up of a dry 3D skeleton with some moss attached and four tree stumps around the stage. This was the setting that housed today’s three stories. Mental illnesses will always be crucial subjects that concern us, and it is vital to put them on stage; and so it was. Raw, rough, literal. Perhaps we could go further, approaching these delicate topics through poetry, conventions, and theatricality, and thus achieve openness and, why not, a deeper understanding of them. Watching this play, I am reminded of my teacher and recall him saying, “We already know the butterfly has wings so you don’t need to show them.” Very well played by the performers (César Cova, Bill O...
Tasks are exercises, usually simple instructions to carry out an activity and the task must be fulfilled; you have to do your duty and do it well. While I was waiting to enter the show, I was given a simple task: to write something positive about myself on one piece of paper and something negative on another. It was easy to write the positive, though I did so without much certainty that I truly was what I wrote on the paper; it felt more like an invitation to become it. Writing the next one, describing oneself negatively, was a bit more challenging. In the end, I did it after some self-scrutiny. It’s like a battle of concepts between self-love and the principle of acceptance. As we went in, took our seats, and waited for the show to begin, I kept looking and thinking about that simple activity, which seemed to occupy my thoughts, somewhere between doubt and pride. The empty space: an actor lying on the floor, asleep under a spotlight. On his face, a smile; on his body, lightly warm clo...