La Obra: Mariano Pensotti's philosophical and existential world shines

Mariano Pensotti's latest theatrical production, 'La Obra,' delves into the intricate philosophical and existential questions surrounding human belief, memory, and the narratives we construct. The play, currently showing at Teatro Alvear in Buenos Aires, is described as a monumental work that examines the nature of storytelling itself.

The narrative follows a Lebanese theater director, portrayed by Rami Fadel Khalaf, a Syrian refugee living in Berlin, as he travels to Argentina. His mission is to uncover the story of Simon Frank, a Polish Jewish man who survived concentration camps. Frank settled in Coronel Sívori, a town in Buenos Aires province, and embarked on an ambitious project to reconstruct his life through a play that involved the entire community as both actors and scenery.

The production's visual design evokes Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, with a circular wooden structure that appears alive, pulsating with music and light. This sets the stage for a complex, multi-layered story. The cast, including prominent Argentine actors Alejandra Flechner and Diego Velázquez, portrays the townspeople who were witnesses to and participants in Frank's decades-long endeavor. The play's intricate structure, likened to Russian nesting dolls, promises surprises and emotional depth for the audience, culminating in the revelation of a dark secret.