Andreu Rifé analyzes fear at the Teatre Gaudí

Andreu Rifé is a well-known actor and musician who takes Stefan Zweig's eponymous novel and turns it into a mirror. It is no longer just the story of a betrayal in early 20th-century Vienna; it is a reflection on artistic block, the artist's vertigo, and, above all, the weight of others' judgment.

Por: a work that moves between the novel and the creative process

The play tells us the story of Irene, a wealthy woman who, after a love affair, finds herself trapped in a blackmail that consumes her. But Rifé adds another narrative layer: the creative process itself.

The staging shows us the tension between the director and his producer, the fears and contradictions that arise when a contemporary artist confronts a classic. How to finish the work? How to be faithful to Zweig without betraying oneself? This duality is the axis of the show.

Metatheater, music, and raw emotions

We are faced with a very original show based on metatheater. In a constant play of mirrors, we see the actor interpreting Zweig's plot, but we also see him in full rehearsal, managing doubts, the debate with the producer, and working with the team. This dual format adds a touch of humor to the story, which is appreciated and keeps the pace from faltering at any moment.

On stage, we see the purest Andreu Rifé: actor, musician, and singer. He narrates the novel and interprets the characters without great flourishes or elaborate scenographies. He doesn't need costume changes or artifices; a microphone and his interpretive talent are enough. His diction and intention immerse us fully in Zweig's suffocating Vienna from minute one.

But Rifé is not alone. He is accompanied by an artistic team that gives the proposal a very interesting poetic character:

• The musician (Raúl Juan): Who not only plays but also does backing vocals and creates the necessary atmosphere.
• The plastic artist (Àfrica Fanlo): Who, while the songs play, draws live and gives image to the emotions. It is a beautiful resource that transmits much more than simple words.

The double reading of fear

All this dose of poetry and intensity is toned down and humanized when the face of fear appears. The work proposes a fascinating double reading: on the one hand, the protagonist's fear of adultery; on the other, the actor's real fear when exposing himself to the public. The fear of being judged, of not being liked, or of failing. This fear that paralyzes and blocks, but which also forces us to rethink things and helps us to evolve. This reflection is the most interesting and sincere part of the proposal.

With Por, Andreu Rifé manages to make a classic text speak directly to us, the spectators of the 21st century, about our own insecurities. It is a multidisciplinary, intelligent piece, very well balanced between literary drama and the reality of the dressing room.