In October, I had the thrill & privilege to premier a one-man show (in Spanish!) at conFusion Benimaclet festival in Valencia, Spain. It was borne out of my frustration at not speaking the language. Fine, I thought. What if I spent an hour talking in “Spanish” about not speaking Spanish?! The journey took me through many places: first words, swear words, synonyms, lost tongues, kissing tongues, silence, a lot of silence, serious silliness, dance, graffiti, drag, Gael, Garcia, Bernal. I performed two shows. At Casa Kamarata and Espacio Aire (pics below). I am working to bring it back to the stage(s) & record it. Stay tuned.
IN ENGLISH, BELOW
NO HABLO ESPAÑOL (Tú Tampoco)
Standup + TED Talk + Teatro del Absurdo
¡Viva la barrera lingüística! Como comunicar sin un idioma en común? “Basado en hechos reales.”
¿Cuándo no hay claridad interpersonal, la realidad se convierte a una comedia o tragedia de errores?
Estudio castellano poco a poco y pienso mucho sobre modalidades de comunicación.
Un día he entendido q no puedo abrir mi boca para decir algo en español porque no puedo hacer bromas. Mi humor siempre es mi armadura, mi plan de escapada, mi red de seguridad. He pensado y … aquí tienes mi primera broma en español:
“Mi español es muy Zen. No hay ni futuro, ni pasado. Solo aquí y ahora.”
La gente sonríe y yo tengo permiso psicológico para sonar estúpido.
Esta obra es sobre la vulnerabilidad del deseo de conectar entre humanos.
Durante el espectáculo descubrimos (entre otras cosas):
- ¿Qué hacen los solteros con cinco lenguajes de amor?
- Si los dioses entienden oraciones en lenguas extranjeras
- Historia de las ultimas personas de sus idiomas nativas
- El poder de la danza para y emocionar, avergonzar y aburrir
- El valor y peligro de silencio
- Etc.
Un espectáculo adaptado para adultos (que hablan o no hablan español)
I Don’t Speak Spanish (Neither Do You)
Standup + TED Talk + Theater of the Absurd
All Hail the Language Barrier! How to communicate with no language in common? “Based on real events”
Without interpersonal clarity, life becomes a comedy of errors or a tragedy of oopsies (or both)
Learning Spanish (I really do not speak-speak Spanish) as a mid-life crisis learner, I think too much about modes of communication.
One day, I realized I cannot “open my mouth” in Spanish because I cannot joke in Spanish. Humor has always been my defense strategy, armor, escape route, safety net, etc. I had to find my own entry point. Here is my first joke in Spanish:
“My Spanish is very Zen. There is no future, no past. Only here and now.”
People smile or laugh and I get my psychoemotional permission to sound stupid.
This “show” is about the vulnerability of our desire to connect with other humans.
Among other things, we’ll find out:
- Home come there are five love languages and you’re still lonely?
- Do gods understand prayers in foreign tongues?
- What’s it like to be the last person speaking a dying language?
- The power of movement to excite and bore us
- The benefits and dangers of silence
- Etc.
This show is suitable for adult audiences (who do or do not speak Spanish)
Alexey Timbul 