Luisa-Vehil Hall of the Cervantes National Theatre – for “enthusiastic” spectators

On March 12th of this year, "The Enthusiastic Spectator" (El ávido espectador), the last work by Alejandro Zingman , premiered in the Luisa-Vehil Hall of the Cervantes National Theatre . Carolina Adamovsky , a close friend of the playwright, directed the production and is also part of the small cast.

Alejandro Zingman was a great lover of the theater. He played all kinds of roles. He was an actor, playwright, director, and teacher. He taught acting at, among other places, the Rojas Cultural Center and the San Martín Theater. In the last months of his career, he devoted himself to small-scale theater.

“How Strange Your Family Is” (qué cosa tu familia) and “Wanting Is Easy” (fácil es pedir) are some of the plays he wrote and directed. His best-known and most frequently performed work is undoubtedly “Litosphere” (litósfera). This complex drama about two musicians, written and premiered in 2011, was part of the 2012 “Szene” (Escena) festival and was performed shortly after his death as a tribute in the Luisa Vehil Hall of the Cervantes National Theatre.

On this occasion, the play we are discussing today, "The Enthusiastic Spectator" (el ávido espectador), was also read aloud. The stage design is simple, almost neutral. A light gray armchair and a low table dominate the scene. There are a few eccentric objects that contribute to the plot.

The clothes are ordinary, without any noteworthy details, apart from the blonde artist's updo, which is made of chopsticks. The simplicity of the set and costumes contrasts sharply with the complexity of the work, which unfolds gradually, gaining intensity as the minutes pass and sometimes bordering on comedy, sometimes on tragedy.

Zingman handles the absurd with great skill. The twist at the end, "a la Pirandello," is as unexpected as it is brilliant.

The play presents a group of friends who become closely connected through the theatre, their experiences and anecdotes.

The viewer immediately recognizes themselves in this familiar laughter and the comments that allude to various theatrical works without naming them. Those outside the circle of theater enthusiasts remain in the dark. The atmosphere is relaxed; no one gives long speeches or offers profound thoughts.

All the tools of the Theatre of the Absurd are employed: recurring plot lines, archetypal and flat characters, dark humor, farce, and senseless actions. However, this break with conventional logic is not intended to reflect fear or meaninglessness. On the contrary, one could say that the underlying theme is friendship – how it develops and what its internal rules are.

The play thrives on the brilliant performances of the actors. Analía Sanchez plays her role perfectly. She was trained by leading figures in the Argentine theater world, participated in a clown workshop led by Castiñeiras, and has been nominated for several awards, including the Florencio Sánchez Award and the ACE Award for Best Newcomer.

Juliana Muras has worked both in Argentina and abroad, participated in film productions, and teaches acting. Javier Lorenzo also has extensive acting experience. He has appeared in more than 25 plays and received the "Theatre del Mundo" ("Theatre of the World") award for Best Actor. His role is demanding, but he masters it flawlessly.

Mariano Sayavedra has collaborated with some of the most renowned theater directors and has appeared in several films and series on streaming platforms. His role is of central importance and encompasses several crucial key moments.

Carolina Tejeda's brief appearance is masterful. Only an actress as experienced and accomplished as her could portray this with such naturalness.

Carolina Adamovsky's contribution in her dual role as actress and director deserves a separate paragraph. She is a superb teacher, having begun by leading acting workshops and directing the theater group at the University of Di Tella. She teaches acting classes III and IV at the UNA (University of the Arts), has been giving workshops at the San Martín Theater for over 25 years, and runs her own acting school.

She was a scholarship recipient at the International Theatre Institute in Berlin and participated in Jette Steckel's production of "Othello" at the Deutsches Theater in the same city. She worked tirelessly in various roles and explained in an interview with Laura Gomez that she was deeply moved because she was part of the group of friends who accompanied Alejandro Zingman on this project.

Initially, she saw herself as an actress, but eventually she took charge of casting and directing because she "had the play in her blood." A great effort that paid off.

Profile:
“El ávido espectador” – from Thursday to Sunday – 9 p.m.

Directed by Carolina Adamovsky

TNC – Libertad 815 – CABA – Argentina

Workshop for lecturers:
April 18, 2026 – from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM – via Zoom.
Lecturer: Ana Durán – link to registration.