Having been written by Juan Benet, the Spanish novelist and essayist "Agonia Confutans" has recently been adapted by the Portuguese actor Carlos Paulo.
The elaborate and intricate text in the form of a dialogue opposes Corpus and Pertes, an inseparable couple in a relationship of inextricable love and hate. The ongoing dialogue which at times evokes Plato and even Becket takes onto a rather soft sadomasochist impregnated verbal fight, veering towards the philosophical question of whether men change or remain always the same and ultimately taking the viewers through the unpredictable and incoherent movement of life.
The performance was second to none, namely in regards to the role played by Carlos Paulo, whose voice resonated in one's mind even long after the theatrical piece was finished.
The mise-en-scène was as elaborate as the play with two "projected" spaces within the same performing space, with one having been caved into the stage, thus reinforcing the positions of the two acting characters, (who in the words of Carlos Paulo could very well have been one single character fighting against his or her own self).
"Agonia Confutans" which was first staged in Bobigny, Paris in 1995, had the son of Juan Benet and his daughter-in-law sit in the audience on the twentieth anniversary of the death of the author - last Sunday's performance.
Note:
The Latin word meaning
Confuto,as,are,avi, atum
2nd century before Plato - to confuse one's vision and silence the adversary by proving him/her that he/she was wrong; to disorder; to overwhelm by argument and evidence.
1st century before Cicerus - to refute and leave an opponent with nothing to say by proving he/she is wrong or untrue.
2 centuries after Apuleius - to perplex; to confuse; to bewilder.
An absolute "must".
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