Agustín “Rada” Aristarán: “It is spectacular how Matilda is still valid in this world of fantasy and madness”

Something that happens when we talk about “Matilda”, is that although most know that it is based on the 1988 classic written by renowned author Roald Dahl, inevitably associates its characters with the indelible stamp left by the interpretations of Dany DeVito’s film with Mara Wilson in 1996. However, what some do not know is that in 2010, the company -also British as the writer- Royal Shakespeare Company created a musical directed by playwright Dennis Kelly and with songs by Tim Minchin, to bring to the theater the spirit of the story of the girl who acquires telekinetic skills and confronts the principal of her school, that was captivating generations whatever its format. Until arriving in Buenos Aires, for the first time in the Gran Rex.” I feel that the work comes in a moment. It was on Broadway (from 2013 and 2015), in London and Madrid and that now it is here with the same standard, makes the creators have their eyes set here with the same parameters to see this story that is stuck in the heart of all “, says Agustín “Rada” Aristarán in dialogue with Filo.news, reviewing his memories until today being part of the main cast. “I remember that I saw the film a thousand times, as it happened to all of us when we were children, that we see it, we see it and we see it. A long time later I was lucky enough to see it on Broadway and I remember that I was amazed by the actor who played Tronchatoro. He said ‘how wonderful what he does’, ‘how he transformed’. I was amazed but it was never even in my plans to one day be Tronchatoro. So it transcended my dream. Today to be in that place is crazy,” he acknowledges. I really wanted to be able to act but I’m also very surprised to be in those places; It makes me very happy”, Rada Aristarán.That world of stories is not at all alien to Rada, but rather, familiar. Since childhood, he professionalized as a magician, and on more than one occasion – in shows such as “Serendipity” – he has said how he continued to play as an adult and also through the growth of his daughter Bianca, who also participates in “Matilda, the musical”. In 2019, he had the theatrical opportunity to play the vizier in “Aladin: it will be great” by the playwright Marisé Monteiro and directed by Ariel del Mastro (with whom he returns to work this time). While the same year, he performed the voice for the Latin American version of the hyena Kamari for the live action “The Lion King”. Even in March he arrived at the rehearsals fresh from Disney.” I really like the world of fantasy, of stories,” he admits. “I work a lot with Disney and it’s a flash to be working there, in that world of lies, which we all know is a lie. It’s like magic, what I initially and fundamentally do. I’m going to tell you a lie, you accept and you’re going to applaud later for that, because it’s going to be impossible not to do it because I’m telling you a lie that is super healthy, “he reflects.* What is magic for you? The magic is to be able to get into the same story that we are telling, in that contact of the public with those who are on stage, even if we know that it is a lie. I’m seeing it, and that’s when I’m believing it.* You also share this leading role with Fer Metilli, who plays Matilda’s mother. I live it with Fer who is one of the actresses I admire the most. Beyond being my partner, it is spectacular to be an actor and have her as a partner because she coaches me in everything: I arrive very prepared to the castings, to the auditions. She’s a great actress and she breaks it, and she’s also very demanding. So when he sees me, he’s tightening the strings of everything and I feel super privileged. Working together on this play is a mess. Also with the Matildas (for the number of functions, the protagonist is distributed with the performance and talent of Catalina Picone, Isabella Sorrentino and Victoria Vidal) and all the children, you can not believe the talent they have. They’re amazing, they know all the lyrics, they’re super sharp. Luckily the children are there to explain how many pairs are three boots (he mentions with the paradox that represents the message of this story: to be able to rise up against the violence that children suffer in the form of authority).Fer Metilli, Bianca and Rada at the Gran Rex | Photo: Instagram @soyrada.His transformation into TronchatoroIn addition to his relationship with the world of stories, Rada is characterized by having a social conscience that gives him perspective, reality and allows him to deromanticize the fantasy plot. Regarding “Matilda” her characters can be found in today’s world, and that’s one of the reasons why she remains.” Mat’s StoryIlda is spectacular how she is still valid in this world of fantasy and madness. It has violence, it speaks of good, of evil that is the character that I have to do, of love, sweetness, in the same story that also glimpses the violence that many children endure, and the strength they have to turn those situations around, “says the artist. To put herself in the shoes of the director, Rada was involved in a process of 2 hours 40 minutes of makeup, plus the costumes with a heavy suit, which finishes outlining the corporality of the character, and reminiscent of the image of Pam Ferris (probably one of the most iconic in pop culture), inspired by the caricature that Dahl thought to mock “authority”, of the disciplinary methods with which it was intended to exercise power over children. However – and it is appropriate to say it – this representation is also biased by a series of stereotypes that tried to illustrate it in a non-hegemonic way (not so Miss Honey), and thus the formula of the mirror-mirror of Snow White is repeated. In this sense, what contribution does the fact that it is represented by a male generate?Rada as Tronchatoro in “Matilda, the musical” | Photo: Instagram @soyrada.“Always in musicals men play Tronchatoro. I don’t know why but it makes me very happy because otherwise I couldn’t be doing it here today. Tronchatoro is the opposite of me: she is a very tall woman, bodily she is very different from me, and very bad.
Having to do that, completely different from what I do, is a challenge. And I already love her.
Because what that woman lacked was a maternal or paternal look from someone who gives her a little love,” reflects Rada.* Just another opposite to you because you could attract those looks, right?  Yes, I am lucky that many people come to see me and to be able to consider myself an actor, I was working a lot this last year. In “El Reino”, in “Canelones”, a series based on a story by Hernán Casciari that I recorded with Darío Barassi, Verónica Llinás and César Bordón and premieres by the end of the year. I’m also recording a sitcom in Disney.Me makes me very happy because I really wanted to be able to act but I’m also very surprised to be in those places, it’s a lot.Agustín “Rada” Aristarán before going on stage | Photo: Instagram @soyrada.* How was the experience in “The Kingdom”? I can’t get it out of my head the day we read the script and I looked to the side of the casting and said “it can’t be”. See Mercedes Morán, Diego Peretti, Nancu Dupláa, Joaquín Furriel, Peter Lanzani, Chino Darín. He said “stop a little give it” (jokes). I couldn’t believe it. I felt like grabbing the phone and telling my friends “you don’t know what’s going on.” It was crazy. And then on set I could see how generous everyone is with a beginner, because I am, in a proposal as crazy as “The Kingdom”.
It was amazing how they helped me and accompanied me. You always saw that I do half bad. Everything that El Reino tells is spicy but it’s no different than what’s happening now.* As in “Los Adoptantes”, “Re Loca”, now with Tronchatoro. Do you like to play bad? Yes, I like it. Because it’s the opposite of what I am and what I do and I have fun but at the same time it makes me very uncomfortable.* There is something that your character brings in that second season of “The Kingdom” is how everything is manipulated with the networks, something that you understand because you work a lot with it. How does this affect you? I’m super aware of how harmful networks also are, and also how positive they are: I know they work so that a lot of unknown people also have a voice. Before you had to wait for three or four people who owned the channels, to give them the possibility, today the most recognized and recognized musicians started in networks. And that’s because it democratized everything.“Matilda, the musical” opens this Thursday, June 1 with a cast headed by Agustín “Rada” Aristarán, along with Fer Metilli, José María Listorti (as Mr. Wormwood), and Laurita Fernández (as Señorita Miel). The work that broke sales record continues to add functions including winter holidays. It is produced by Carlos and Tomás Rottemberg, Valentina Berger of GO Broadway, Mariano Pagani of MP and Pablo Kohlhuber and Fernando Moya of Ozono Producciones.

Original source in Spanish