Theater 2011 Direction: Chus Gutiérrez Screenplay: Chus Gutiérrez Production: 57º Festival de Mérida (Dirección: Blanca Portillo y Chusa Martín) Cast: Roberto Alvarez Synopsis: Blanca Portillo called me to write this monologue and I have to say that I was very happy to reply promptly over the phone: “Yes, I would love to”. Then as I put the phone down, I started to think and got quite scared. I have never been into classics and really not only did I need to write the monologue but it also meant that I had to carry out some research and decide on which character to create. I took an old book that I had at home and it was about Sisyphus, after a bit of looking up, I discovered that Camus had written an essay on “The Myth of Sisyphus”. What I liked about Camus’ outlook was that, for him, Sisyphus was a man full of pride, one who had accepted his fate and the meaning of his existence.
The image of Sisyphus, that of a man who dragging a stone up the mountain would inevitably have to watch, how instants later, the stone fell downwards, seemed to me very modern and common. Don’t we spend our life, similarly to Sisyphus, fighting for things that vanish from our hands moments later?
In this monologue, this classic character reflects upon his life and what he has observed throughout centuries of existence in the world of mortals, how ephemeral our dreams remain and how we spend our lives completing unworthy tasks.
Based on Camus’ image, Sisyphus’ life has not come to a halt. I opted for a proud Sisyphus, conscious of his own existence and destiny. We, mortals, although we are conscious of the absurdity of our lives, we still find the light to pull ourselves together, the strength to drag our stone up the mountain, and in this strange manner, we find dignity in our own conscience.
Chus Gutiérrez Link: http://www.festivaldemerida.es/edicion_57/programa/Alcazaba/Mano-a-mano/manoa-a-mano.html Director of photography: Juanjo Llorens Music: Tao Gutiérrez Assistant director: Mariel Maciá Production management: Fernando Ramos Producer: Festival de Mérida Relevant festivals: 57º Festival de Mérida |
