A great night with Mario Gas

Suicides often leave farewell letters that can explain the reasons for such a drastic decision. Writers of the stature of Virginia Woolf, Stefan Zweig, Cesare Pavese, and the much less known Henri Roorda, author of the work that Mario Gas presents at the Sala Beckett, did so.

Roorda (Brussels, 1870 - Lausanne, 1925) has an interesting biography linked to education. As a teacher and popularizer of mathematical sciences, he defended libertarian pedagogy through lectures, articles in anarchist magazines (including that of the Francesc Ferrer i Guàrdia school), and local newspapers, but also in satirical magazines where he explored his particular humor. This humor also peeks through in the final existentialist-leaning piece interpreted by Gas, in which he reflects on love, marriage, social classes, money, art, and, of course, education. How many of us have not wondered what on earth certain subjects we suffered through in school were good for? Well, this mathematics teacher asks himself the same thing. In line with the ideas he defended regarding education, he advocates for breaking away from norms, exalts beauty and good wine, and does not hesitate to label those who live for today while thinking about tomorrow as stupid.

In the end, this is the text of a suicide who dies so as not to cause more pain to people. He does so while reviewing issues that are always current with irony, if not sarcasm, and with great talent. The text distills philosophy in the hands of a brilliant Mario Gas, who masters the word like a river in the valley or a furious mountain stream with almost imperceptible gestural details. The direction by Fernando Bernués grants a surprising tranquility to the character, far from the drama that could be unleashed. Art theater that speaks to us about ourselves and the world that surrounds us. Do not miss it!