DistantNews
Support us
Actors Memo Villegas and Arturo Barba Face Stage Fright in New Play
🇲🇽 Mexico /Culture & Society

Actors Memo Villegas and Arturo Barba Face Stage Fright in New Play

From El Universal · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Sources not specified New plan
  • Actors Memo Villegas and Arturo Barba discuss their experiences with stage fright and panic attacks during theatrical performances.
  • Both actors recount specific incidents where anxiety impacted their performances, leading to self-doubt.
  • They are now collaborating on the play "El quinto paso," exploring themes of human nature and redemption.

Actors Memo Villegas and Arturo Barba are confronting their past struggles with stage fright as they prepare to star in David Ireland's play "El quinto paso." Villegas vividly recalls May 1, 2012, as a turning point when a panic attack halted his performance in "Litoral" in Mexico City. His hands would cramp, and on that day, something significant happened that stopped the physical manifestation of his anxiety, though the sensation lingered.

I did 10 more years of theater after that, even a monologue, but the feeling never goes away. Something happened that day; it was very strong because since then, I stopped cramping.

— Memo VillegasRecounting the lasting impact of a severe panic attack experienced during a 2012 theater performance.

"I did 10 more years of theater after that, even a monologue, but the feeling never goes away," Villegas shared. "Something happened that day; it was very strong because since then, I stopped cramping."

Barba, a veteran of the stage for decades, also experienced intense pressure. Over a decade ago, during the play "Bajo reserva," he had a scene with Cecilia Suárez where his hand trembled as he was supposed to deliver a line. This triggered a crisis of doubt about his place in acting. "Talking to many people, they told me that if this didn't happen to me, then it meant I didn't belong there," he recounted.

Talking to many people, they told me that if this didn't happen to me, then it meant I didn't belong there.

— Arturo BarbaReflecting on the self-doubt triggered by experiencing anxiety during a past theatrical role.

Now, they unite for "El quinto paso," set to premiere on August 28 at the Rafael Solana Theater. In the play, Villegas portrays a man in Alcoholics Anonymous, with Barba as his sponsor and friend. The central conflict arises when the protagonist nears confessing his wrongdoings, potentially jeopardizing their relationship.

I am describing the play as a tragicomedy or dramedy, there is dark and uncomfortable humor, there are laughs at the least expected moment, but it is to delve into human nature.

— Memo VillegasDescribing the tone and themes of the upcoming play 'El quinto paso.'

Villegas described the play as a tragicomedy or dramedy, featuring dark and uncomfortable humor that elicits laughter at unexpected moments to delve into human nature. Barba views the production, directed by Daniel Veronese, as a continuation of his theatrical masochism. Despite the challenges, he finds happiness after each performance. "Here there are only two characters, and maintaining the rhythm and complexity throughout the duration of the play makes the skin crawl a little," he admitted. "I thought I would reach 53 saying 'check!', but no, it's when you say, 'Damn, people are paying for a ticket for me to say something, not just to entertain, but to reflect something important,' and I say, 'Oh, hell!'"

I thought I would reach 53 saying 'check!', but no, it's when you say, 'Damn, people are paying for a ticket for me to say something, not just to entertain, but to reflect something important,' and I say, 'Oh, hell!'

— Arturo BarbaExpressing the profound responsibility and pressure he feels as an actor performing for an audience.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Universal in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog