'Gente Nocturna' says goodbye to stages in Cafè-Teatre Llantiol

Yesterday evening at 18h, the last performance of 'Gente Nocturna' (Nocturnals), by Misael Sanroque, took place under Llaniol's spotlights on an intimate eve full of drunkards, bohemians, and cynical artists.

After the premiere's euphoria two months ago, this was a discrete representation with a slight melancholic touch, because it would be the last time this place will be performed on stages. With a half-full hall, with new faces who were there for the first time and others who repeated the experience in order to see our progress in degree.

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What is 'Gente Nocturna' (Nocturnals) about?

Once upon a Saturday night in a gloomy and silent bar…

Max y Otto are two bohemian drunkards who waste their cold Saturday nights drinking, maybe to forget or maybe to remember. Max is an unsuccessful writer who has quit writing, but not drinking. Otto is a pianist in love who wants to quit drinking, bars, and his cynical friend.

As a modern-day Falstaff, Max fears that now that Otto has fallen in love, he might abandon him on their Saturday rituals. When everything seems lost for Max, the woman who once gave a sense to his life will return, the singer Cora, whose trace was lost five years ago...

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It was a discrete performance without many artifices, where farewell words were noticed on the air. On a personal level, I must say that yesterday's performance wasn't my best, I didn't feel totally comfortable on stage, and I wasn't able to give my character's best version. I consider it was something precipitate, we got programmed at short notice and maybe that fact influenced on the lack of rehearsals or on changing some aspects that failed on the play's premiere, but above all, I mustn't let that influence my performance of a decaffeinated version of Otto on scene. Though these inconveniences, the play itself seemed to be seen positively on the assisting audience, so it could be said that the basis and essence we have are good.

Thanks to all the ones who came for your patience and support during the play. In general terms, it was received quite good by the audience and the critiques I received were good, I must highlight that some people who came for the first time told me that they liked watching me performing on my character's tessitura, though I wasn't able to show it at its most, also telling me that they had a great time watching this play. On the other hand, the repeater ones told me it was a pity that was the last time they watched the play on stage because they considered the essence was still latent and the place where we performed the play added a plus of realism. To all of them, both new ones and repeaters, a million thanks for your assistance, your critiques, and your support!

I also want to thank the other cast members for knowing how to cope with the circumstances and for giving the best of yourselves on the stage. To Alberto Rizzo for his help on the play's technical aspects and to Tamara Gahonna for her advice and help from the direction, though we haven't been able to work it as much as we liked. Finally, I would like to thank Misael Sanroque for his trust, support, advice, and for counting on me since minute one on this project. It's been an entertaining journey, mate, where we had been able to put on stage something based on our friendship and our nights in dark bars, I hope this adventure doesn't die after this last show. A million thanks, mates, I hope to work again with you all, if not in this project, in new ones sooner than later!

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The future of 'Gente Nocturna' is yet uncertain and for the time being, we don't have planned more performances. Being such a personal project where we have put so much into, we need to take some time to get some fresh air, also we need to find a better way to portray these characters where a balance between living them without feeling abducted by them is possible and, above all, let the play rest for a while. I had learned again what's behind acting on many aspects and, in general terms, I consider that after this path, I leave having become a better person.

Farewell, Otto! Remember that you have an open door in me to come back... see you in silent and dark bars!