José Sacristán proves at the Cervantes that only those who are forgotten die.

José Sacristán is a reliable actor, a true asset who does not falter. Cultured and refined, his stylized performances seem tailor-made for theater. The first five minutes of his appearance on the stage of the Cervantes were enough to appreciate that 'The Comedian's Son', a play written and directed by him to pay tribute to Fernán Gómez, would not decline despite being a dramatized reading with no other stimuli than those provided by the veteran actor.

'The Comedian's Son' delves into the early professional life of Fernando Fernán Gómez. These years are brought to life through Sacristán, who alternates biographical narration with the portrayal of several influential figures in Fernán Gómez's life, especially his mother and grandmother.

Related news

José Sacristán: «I've been in this for almost 70 years, if I complained I'd be a jerk»

Thus, Sacristán turned his first of two performances at the Cervantes into a delicate tribute to the enduring life of Fernán Gómez. A vibrant ode to the challenges of that Spain emerging from a bloody civil war and trying to make sense of things again. With a simple setup, the narrative thread was reduced to Sacristán's voice and narration, occasionally supported by a background screen projecting real images that provided context.

Although he claims that in some aspects it does, time seems to have no effect on Sacristán. With extreme lucidity and a range of gestures and expressions, the actor allows the audience to visually traverse that black-and-white world of boarding houses and dreams of a future that seem almost unattainable.

Expand

The audience, which filled the Cervantes, showed their appreciation at the end of the play with a wave of applause and a standing ovation. 'The Comedian's Son' thus succeeded in capturing on stage the time and circumstances that Fernán Gómez lived through, highlighting the talent and courage he possessed to overcome the economic, political, and social challenges of the time.

The negative note had to be noted this Saturday in the auditorium itself. Sacristán was forced to interrupt his performance several times due to the sound of phones. Not all technology is easy to use, but failing to silence your mobile when you take a seat in a theater can be considered a small life failure.