Play explores legacy of Argentine comedian Alberto Olmedo
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In Buenos Aires, Argentina, playwright Florencia Aroldi created a play inspired by the improvisational style of comedian Alberto Olmedo. Aroldi began the project by questioning the boundaries between reality, fiction, and performance, focusing on Olmedo’s tendency to break the fourth wall and reveal behind-the-scenes moments.
The play centers on a man who believes himself to be Olmedo and must attend psychiatric sessions as part of his probation after writing graffiti.
During these sessions, the man argues that the psychiatrist is also a character in a play, blurring the lines between what is real and what is staged. Aroldi cast actor Manuel Longueira in the lead role because of his physical resemblance to Olmedo and similar comedic timing, hoping to recapture the comedian’s presence on stage.
Audiences at the first performance at Portón de Sánchez responded as if Olmedo himself was present, despite the play’s exploration of the idea that the actor is not actually the comedian. The play also addresses how contemporary audiences might view Olmedo’s older comedy routines. Aroldi included the phrase “no me saque de época” (“don’t take me out of my time”) when the psychiatrist criticizes the protagonist’s humor, acknowledging the historical context of the material and inviting discussion about evolving sensibilities.
Aroldi believes Olmedo’s humor once united diverse audiences, and that this unifying power remains relevant today.
