Ramon Pardina: "Many things that affect a couple happen in the restrooms"

BarcelonaRamon Pardina's (Barcelona, ​​1977) first play came about in the midst of a breakup. Perhaps that's why the writer and screenwriter began to explore what his life would have been like if he had chosen different paths in his love life. From that search, full of hypotheses, emerged UnpairedA romantic comedy directed by Roc Esquius and starring Esther López and Ricard Farré, which premieres this Thursday at Espai Texas. The show revolves around an ordinary couple approaching forty who are experiencing a downturn in their relationship after missing the opportunity to have children. "This is a turning point in a relationship, a crossroads. From there, they wonder what their lives would have been like if they had done things they didn't do," explains Pardina.

The answer to these questions lies in the bathroom: there they discover a door to a parallel universe where they encounter different versions of themselves, leading them to reconsider various aspects of their personalities. "I've always liked mixing fantastical elements with everyday ones, and I often do, especially when I write stories," says Pardina. This time, the writer has focused particularly on bathrooms to bring forth the protagonists' deepest intimacies. "They're a very interesting place and an important source of comedy. Many things that affect a couple happen in restrooms, because they're a space where you really can't hide anything. There, you're exactly who you are," emphasizes Pardina, who gives as examples "banal situations like leaving the toilet seat up" or "the intimacy that develops in public restrooms between complete strangers."

Love through the fantastic

Although this is his first theatrical comedy, Pardina has extensive experience as a screenwriter in the field of audiovisual humor. He has worked on programs such as... Poland and The Stranger, and is currently the script coordinator for the program Future imperfect by Andreu Buenafuente on Spanish Television. For the play, Pardina has drawn inspiration from romantic comedies that also incorporate elements of science fiction or fantasy, such as the films Groundhog Day (1993), Forget about me (2004) and Palm Springs (2020). "They are great examples that, through humor and fantasy, one can tell sentimental stories," the writer argues.

For the staging, Unpaired He has a team accustomed to performing on stage. Roc Esquius, author of shows such as Likes and SapiensHe takes over the direction while another of his plays is currently running: SupersapiansA science fiction show, also starring Enric Cambray and Marta Torné, takes place in an immersive space in Poblenou. As for the cast, Unpaired It has two performers with long careers, who are part of the main Catalan companies currently operating: Esther López, from The Caloricand Ricard Farré, fromThe Pirates.