Actress Luisina Quarleri has provided us another great behind the scene perspective!

Can´t believe opening day has finally come...and gone! We´ve
officially started our run, and with our second show already under our
belt a lot of positive feedback has already started to come our way:
this past weekend we had not one, but two rave reviews in the Buenos
Aires Herald. I´m so happy to be part of this production and to be
working with such incredible people that have made this whole process
so rewarding.

Let´s talk, for a second, about the incredible amount of concentration
and energy it takes to act on a stage. You need to be 100% focused on
what´s going on, tuned in to the fullest and extremely sensitive and
open to any and all connections with your fellow actors, while
simultaneously completely turned off to any and all connections with
your audience that might break the imaginary fourth wall (regardless
of how many times someone coughs or a cell phone rings), and at the
same time, be able to absorb all that glorious extra energy that
having a real live audience gifts you, that extra umph that comes from
all those people there to watch you, waiting to be entertained, moved
to tears or laughter, enthralled in someone else´s world (real or not)
that isn´t their own. To have those people willingly give us their
time and attention is so humbling. It´s a great gift to be an actor,
and to have the opportunity to do theater in Buenos Aires, the city
where I was born but never really got to experience, is one of the
happiest turns of events that have popped up in my artistic life so
far.

One of the craziest and best things about the theater is that is
always live, and no one moment can be repeated exactly the same way.
That´s what it makes it so real, so exciting, you could even say
dangerous in a way. There´s no chance of a do-over, a second take, a
let´s-try-that-again and fix that mistake....no. You get distracted,
you miss a line, you just have to keep going and hope you find your
way back again. A former teacher of mine once compared it to boxing:
you have to pay attention and react to every blow, every jab, every
touch, and if you miss one or you get hit, then too bad...no time to
think about it, just keep on going or you get knocked down. This was
particularly true for me this past week, when I had a small wardrobe
malfunction and was momentarily thrown off in the middle of my scene,
unable to keep myself engaged in what was going on with David (aka
Tom) because my mind was elsewhere. In those precious seconds in which
I considered my options, which to me felt like hours, I figured I had
two choices: a) run off stage and therefore likely sabotage the scene
and probably the play or b) force myself to focus and just.keep.going.

This is easier said than done, but I like to think I did an okay job
at it. And, when it was all over, I had to remind myself that this is
the theater! Anything can happen! That´s what´s so exciting!!! And,
also, to not beat myself up after the fight. After all, I had already
performed in my boxing match that night. 

Luisina 


Here is also our review on Buenos Aires Herald on Saturday 24th of September 2011. The bigger version for you to read is online on our Flickr page http://www.flickr.com/photos/intrudersbuenosaires 

Actor Francisco Ortiz habla sobre la producción inmediatamente después de su estreno! Actor Francisco Ortiz talks about the production straight after its premiere!

ZUMBIDO

Cuando me llegó la noticia de las audiciones para “Intruders”, el planteo de estrenar una obra inédita de un dramaturgo norteamericano en su idioma original me pareció una idea interesante y un desafío atractivo. Pensé qué bueno que sería formar parte de un proyecto así y comencé a prepararme.

Así fue como conocí a Lian Walden, la directora y hoy, compañera de elenco en el papel de “Sasha”. Ella me acercó partes de un texto intenso, obscuro e ingenioso, y luego de las últimas audiciones me ofreció el papel de “Dan”. Comprobé mis sospechas: la obra estaba buena. Ben Kunkel había escrito una pieza inteligente, retorcida, profunda y con un mundo interno fascinante.

El “trabajo de mesa” junto a mis nuevos compañeros de elenco fue el comienzo de un largo camino de creación en el que, me voy a atrever a decir que todos formamos parte. Teníamos a nuestro cargo la tarea de adaptar a la realidad de la escena porteña una obra de 2 horas, creada por y concebida para una cultura distinta, especialmente en lo que a modos de producción del teatro se refiere. Tuvimos la suerte de contar con la dirección y la pasión de una yanqui capricorniana que no se detuvo ante nada (Literalmente...) en su afán de llevar la obra a cabo y sin la determinación de la cual nada de esto hubiera sido posible.

La complejidad de este proceso hizo que se extendiera mucho más de lo planeado en un principio; contemplando recortes de texto; presentaciones a festivales y subsidios; modificaciones en el equipo de producción; las sentidísimas bajas de dos colegas, ya amigas, con las que compartíamos los ensayos: Mariela Ajras y Dafne Schilling ; y la integración de David Maler y Luisina Quarleri, todos ellos, amores míos.

Si bien nadie tenía ni idea de qué tipo de atención podría capturar un proyecto en otro idioma dentro el circuito del teatro independiente de Buenos Aires, había algo en él que había atrapado la mía, la nuestra, y por lo que todos estuvimos dispuestos a dar un salto de fe sobre la luna. A lo largo de los meses “Intruders” cobro nombre y entidad, dentro y fuera de nosotros. Y toda la energía y el esfuerzo que cada uno de los que formamos parte de ella invirtió hoy vuelven transformados en un espectáculo radicalmente fuerte, así como rico y demandante. Poner un pie en ese escenario es entrar a un universo paralelo, clarobscuro, surreal y peligrosamente cercano a la vez, del que estoy orgulloso de formar parte.

Todo este tiempo, dentro y fuera de nuestros personajes, como toda experiencia laboral, hacer “Intruders” es ante todo una experiencia humana, de reconocimiento y autoconocimiento, creativo y personal. El estreno de este sábado fue uno de los ejemplos más claros: me pasaron cosas que no me habían pasado jamás en la vida. Y más que ver, sentí, como mi nueva familia estaba ahí conmigo. Finalizando un recorrido e iniciando otro. Lian, David, Marina y Luisina: aprendo de ustedes cada día, sobre mí mismo, como profesional, sobre el amor, la humildad y el trabajo en equipo. Los llevo conmigo por siempre. Gracias.

BUZZ

When I first heard about the auditions for “Intruders” (a stage adaptation of a new play by a North-American playwright to be performed in its original language) it sounded like an interesting idea and an attractive challenge. I thought it would be great to be part of such a project so I started to prepare for it.

That´s how I met Lian Walden, director and fellow cast member who plays the role of “Sasha”. She introduced me to parts of the intense, dark and witty text, and after a callback, offered me the role of “Dan”. My suspicions were true: the play was good. Ben Kunkel had written a clever, twisted and profound piece of theater drawing you into a fascinating internal world.

The first read-throughs with my new cast members marked the beginning of a long, creative journey that we all became deeply involved with. We were faced with the task of adapting a two-hour play created by and conceived for a different culture to appeal to the “porteño” stage, especially in terms of production. We were lucky enough to count on the direction and passion of a Capricorn Yankee who did everything (literally…) in her will power to make the play happen; and without whose determination none of this would have been possible.

The whole process took longer than expected with deliberations over script cuts, theater festival applications, changes to the production team and the sadness of losing two colleagues, already friends, Mariela Ajras and Dafne Schilling; followed by the arrival of two new cast members, David Maler and Luisina Quarleri, all of whom I love.

While none of us had any idea what kind of attention a foreign language project such as this would attract in Buenos Aires’ independent theatre circuit, there was something in it that had already captured my, indeed all of our, attentions and became the reason why we were all willing to take a leap of faith. Over the course of the last few months “Intruders” had become an entity inside and around us. And all the energy and effort each member invested in it has resulted in a radically strong, rich and demanding show. To step onto that set is to enter a dark and surreal parallel universe that’s dangerously close to our own, and I´m proud to be a part of it.

Above all, as with any work experience, making “Intruders” has been a very creative and personal experience of recognition and self-knowledge, both in and out of character. The opening night last Saturday was a perfect example: things happened that had never happened to me before but my new family was there for me. Finishing a path and starting a new one. Lian, David, Marina and Luisina: I learn from you every day about myself, as a professional, about love, humbleness and team-work. I will treasure this experience forever. Thank you.

Rock N´Roll…

Francisco  

It's the final countdown before opening night and the whole Intruders team is positively buzzing (pardon the pun). The set is in place and ready for action, the cast are busy rehearsing in full costume, and the technical team are ironing out the final details before show time. AND tickets are now on sale - you can reserve by phone or email (see information section above).

Last week, photographer Patricio Guillamon took our official publicity photos and they turned out great (if we do say so ourselves). You can view them here as well as our Facebook and Flickr pages. We've also uploaded some new rehearsal shots taken by Alex Plonski.

Keep checking our blog over the next few weeks as our talented troupe of actors, director, producer and other crew members will be writing about their experiences in the show (the highs and the lows) and maybe even disclosing some backstage secrets.

Just to remind you, we open this Saturday, September 17 at Teatro La Tertulia on Gallo 826 at 830pm (easily accessible by bus or Subte Line B, Carlo Gardel). If you don't catch our opening night, you have plenty of other opportunities as performances will take place every Saturday night until mid November. 

See you in the theater!

 Estamos en la cuenta regresiva hacia el estreno y todo el grupo de Intruders está a los zumbidos. La escena está preparada y lista para la acción, el elenco está muy ocupado ensayando con su vestuario, y el equipo técnico está ultimando los últimos detalles antes de la noche crucial. Y ahora las entradas están a la venta, pueden reservarlas por teléfono o email (ver información en la columna arriba).

La semana pasada, el fotógrafo Patricio Guillamón sacó nuestras fotos oficiales para publicidad y salieron geniales (si lo decimos nosotros…). Las pueden ver tanto acá como en nuestro Facebook y Flickr. También subimos algunas fotos de ensayo que sacó Alex Plonski.

Sigan chequeando nuestro blog en las próximas semanas mientras que nuestra troupe de actores, directora, productores y los demás miembros del equipo escriben sobre su experiencia en la obra (los altibajos) e incluso tal vez revelen algún secreto de detrás de escena.

Solo pare recordarles, estrenamos este sábado 17 de septiembre en el teatro La Tertulia que queda en Gallo 826, a las 20.30hs (se llega fácilmente en colectivo o en el subte B, estación Carlos Gardel).

Si no vienen al estreno, tienen muchas otras oportunidades porque habrá funciones todos los sábados hasta mediados de noviembre.

                                                               ¡Nos vemos en el teatro!