ALICANTE MAIN THEATER
*** ½
From Gerard Vera and Jose L. Collado
Interpreter: Charles Hippolytus
The great Carlos Hipólito appeared with his wife, Mapi Sagaseta, in Rita at the end of January, and in the solo piece Oceania on Friday. His sincerity, charisma, and simplicity give his performances a warmth that resonates with audiences. The material draws from the text crafted by Jose Luis Collado and Gerardo Vera, who won the 1988 National Theater Award and who, sadly, passed away during the pandemic. The actor’s engaging presence, finesse, and natural skill underpin the success of his work on stage.
The piece serves as a tribute to a person who wore many hats in the world of theater and cinema: set designer, costume designer, actor, film and stage director. The intimate atmosphere of the narrative mirrors the life of a creator who was born in the Madrid mountains in 1947. It was there that he first found a love for cinema. While the production features cinematographic references, the projections and soundstage do not always reveal all the opportunities available for a full sensory experience on stage.
The social and political implications are explored with a broader lens, yet the work keeps its grounding in everyday anecdotes about a well-off family. Themes of first love, absence of love, ideological stance, and a difficult dynamic with a father who belonged to the Falange era surface through the personal lens of theater life. The show traces the artistic journey and passion for the stage through a monologue that follows Vera’s life as creator, with a thread of personal history woven throughout.
The performance moves along a remembered path, with the lead shaping every nuance of the delivery. It blends comedy, drama, nostalgia, and a measured intensity under the tight direction of José Luis Arellano from the LaJoven company, known for work seen in Arniches. The piece shines a light on details that matter, while also offering moments that may seem extraneous, depending on the viewer’s perspective. Carlos Hipólito becomes the weight of a narrative where Vera’s dream-making sometimes clashes with harsh reality. The show presents invented truths and an ongoing reinvention of life as part of the storytelling process.
The actor carries the entire production with a presence that invites the audience deeply into the theater experience. The response from the Alicante audience included a standing ovation that affirmed the production’s impact, and the gesture from the theater director underscored the performance’s resonance. The piece invites reflection on the nature of memory, creativity, and the blurred line between fiction and lived experience, offering a peek into the mind of a creator who shaped visions that linger beyond the final curtain.