Seven years after her initial participation in the CTA production ‘Nathan, the Wise’ by Gotthold Efraim Lessing, Maria Rueff returns to Teatro Municipal Joaquim Benite alongside Rodrigo Francisco in a familiar yet continually surprising venture, according to the CTA’s description of the play.
This exploration led to the discovery of a remarkable futuristic manifesto neither was aware of: ‘A contrador’ by Italian Aldo Palazzeschi (1885-1974), continued the play’s description.
“Rifle ready, a precise shot, and the work spirals downwards,” with no indication of “where it will land,” in a “hunt” guided by director and actor Hajo Schüler from the German company Familie Floz, renowned in Almada for his expertise in masks, concludes the play’s description.
The performance by Hajo Schüler, Maria Rueff, and Rodrigo Francisco is scheduled until November 30 at the theatre’s Main Hall, with shows from Thursday to Saturday at 9 PM, and on Wednesday and Sunday at 4 PM.
The set design is by Marta Carreiras, costumes by Dino Alves, lighting design by Guilherme Frazão, sound design by Daniel Mendrico, and makeup by Natália Bogalho.
“Nothing is profoundly sad, everything is comedic” is the title of the protagonist’s typical discussions with the audience, occurring Saturday afternoons in the theatre’s foyer at 6 PM, concurrent with the play.
The discussions draw inspiration from Italian futurist Aldo Palazzeschi (1885-1974), celebrated in his manifesto ‘O contrador,’ where he asserts, “The more laughter man can find within pain, the deeper he will be.”
“Who is on stage when one is on stage: the origin of laughter, its relationship with power, comedy, and censorship” is the subject of the first discussion, scheduled for Saturday, featuring humorist and writer Ricardo Araújo Pereira.
