In Digging in the sand, Leonardo Torres Vilar plays a millionaire, owner of huacas and close to political power, but who is interested in the myth of the Inkarri. “We all need to be politicized in some way. The path is clear, we have to achieve political reform, change everything and start from scratch”, the actor tells us about the situation. The play was written 60 years ago by Alonso Alegría and is celebrating its season at the Ricardo Palma Cultural Center.
– Last year you were José de San Martín. Now, in the play, you are a millionaire collector and accused of being pishtaco. How do you interpret the other side of the story?
(Smiles) Carlos Gunther is going against the country to satisfy his personal interests. He has a very good phrase: “I am afraid of continuing to have so much money in a country where people have less and less”. Ironically, he says: “It’s my fault, in part.” The first to lose is the country because this man is fulfilling his desire to accumulate wealth. For me it is very interesting.
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– In addition, he mentions that he would have been an archaeologist if he had not been a millionaire.
It’s good to know how silver works, but it can’t be just that. That is the problem, when these people get into such vital fields as health, higher or basic education and make it just a company. ‘They pay duck’ for very important things in our country and that is what is happening now.
– Alegría said that she rewrote this work when she saw that Castillo won and it was thought that there would be a change. Sure, he disappointed, but he believes that hope should be kept. Do you agree?
I totally agree. The main theme of the play is hope. We need to think much more about each other, that’s when all the problems are going to be solved. These problems are perhaps more pronounced in countries like ours, from what you see in traffic to big things like the government. If there is a president who knows that he is not doing the country any good, he should step aside. It is up to all of us to ask ourselves if what I do, I do it thinking of us or of me.
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– After the reopening of the theaters there is an audience, but some rooms are not full. What needs to be done?
There is so much to do. They are commenting that there is a rebound effect, that everyone is throwing themselves into concerts. But they’re not rushing into theaters like crazy (smiles) That would be wonderful! I don’t think they’ve ever thrown like crazy. Theater is a tool for change, for progress, for raising awareness, the moment it is sold solely as entertainment, we are already in a bad way. With Cavando en la arena we have premiered in a small theater, but the work must continue, go to festivals because it is a work that has something important to say. We have to take her to the provinces, anyway.
– Before the performance, the director said that he was continuing with the rehearsals and that there were more and more versions. What does it mean to you as an actor?
Speaking of demands, now (July 28) I’m rehearsing (laughs). I have known Don Alonso since I was born. A close friend of my parents (Lola Vilar and Leonardo Torres Descalzi), I have talked with him all my life. I needed to work with him, he is such an important playwright for us. And I think he gets to play a role that he wants a lot, that embodies a lot of his wishes and fears. I feel particularly privileged.
#Leonardo #Torres #politicized
