MIAMI.- In practically every city in the world there is some colorful character who leaves a mark in the collective memory. They are beings that are generally funny, with particular characteristics in their clothing, walk and behavior. Characters who come to mark the soul of a town. Then, the story of their adventures is passed from generation to generation.
In the daily life of Ecuadorians Quitothe story of La bullfighter is recorded, a thin woman, with a bizarre stick in hand, who walked the city from dawn until late at night, shaking up the city atmosphere.
About Anita Bermeo, known as La Torera, is the work brought to Miami by the company Casa Toledo, from Ecuador, to the 5th. Solo Theater Fest, organized by Artefactus Cultural Proyects.
The dramaturgy of Viviana Cordero, who also directs the proposal, transcends the character from the streets of Quito, to a universal plane, since the fabric of this piece is the strange world of dementia and a life full of difficulties.
The actress Valentina Quintero, who we have already seen in works such as An Odd Couple and An Othello in Distress, fiercely defends the character she plays, and gives herself with grace, to recreate the memory of La Torera.
For a non-Ecuadorian audience, it is difficult to know how much of Anita La Torera’s life there really is, but it is not that important either. From her text it appears that she was placed in an orphanage at the age of 9 and that they left her dressed as a bride in the church on her wedding day. Also that she thought she was a queen, that they nicknamed her La Torera and that she didn’t like her nickname.
The strength of the work lies in the atmosphere it suggests. Relive both Anita and other colorful characters. Those that children tend to mortify and adults look at with a certain smile. Set of figures that are integrated into the folklore of a nation.
The stage work is very well done through several hanging things that seem to float on the stage. A whistle, a hat, a wedding dress, an overcoat, oranges, a purse and a glass.
The staging captivates the audience, who begins to identify with Anita, while listening to the actress say beautiful phrases such as: the fog is the memory of the people. These characters that are evoked by the people, have come to stay, to fill the void of everyday life.
At the end of this scenic journey, Viviana Cordero’s text and Valentina Quintero’s charming interpretation make a character like Anita Bermeo transcend, who has already left Quito, Ecuador, to walk through the streets of Miami. Without a doubt, she will remain here among the Miamians.
