The arrival of Gabriela Ricardes to the direction of the Complejo Teatral de Buenos Aires (CTBA), meant an important fact: she is the first woman in charge of the entity that brings together the main official theaters under the orbit of the
Buenos Aires Ministry of Culture. She is supported by her successful efforts at the head of El Cultural San Martin and the International Circus Festival.
But just knowing the proposals for the 2023 programming, which will be presented at San Martín, Regio, Sarmiento, De la Ribera, and El Plata, legitimate questions were triggered in the theater field. It is that there is a significant male majority among the summoned directors: Rubén Szuchmacher, Javier Daulte, Mariano Pensotti, Mariano Tenconi Blanco, Gabriel Chamé Buendía, Mariano Stolkiner, Federico León, among others, and only two women, Helena Tritek and Lizzie Waisse. Didn’t you think of adding those who have not yet debuted in those spaces, like Valeria Ambrosio or Dora Milea?
In turn, the list of authors that goes from Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe, to the Argentines Gonzalo Demaría (a true CTBA regular), is interesting, but ignores the national playwrights. Which is very striking when prestigious firms such as Patricia Zangaro (except as a text adapter), Alicia Muñoz or Patricia Suarez, have not yet premiered their own pieces in those areas.
Not to mention that Presidente Alvear, dying since 2014, will reopen with a work by the French director and author Alexis Michalik. It is not because of falling into nationalism, but instead in the opportune, given the socioeconomic situation, to take care of the public coffers.
Of the rest, among the most outstanding is the iconic “Long journey of a day towards the night” by O’Neill, starring Arturo Puig and Selva Alemán, directed by Luciano Suardi, Also the legendary “Cyrano” by Rostand, played by Gabriel Goity, with the setting of Willy Landin. Meanwhile, Eleonora Wexler will perform “El testamento de María”, a controversial solo show by Irishman Colm Tóibín, directed by Julio Panno.
Among other international novelties, there is the Focus Spain, which will bring “Lady in red on a gray background”, a novel by Miguel Delibes, with José Sacristán, “A night without a moon” with Juan Diego Botto in the skin of García Lorca, and ” Life is a dream” by Calderón de la Barca in the English version of Declan Donellan. There will also be reruns and productions of the legendary San Martín Theater Puppeteer Group.
