Aloés Theatre premieres day 18 “Infidelities” by Woody Allen

O Theater of the Aloés premieres, on the 18th, in Recreios da Amadora, Woody Allen’s play “Infidelidades”, in an act by Elsa Valentine and Jorge Silva, who also interpret, announced today the company.

With the original title “Central Park West”, the play begins with the betrayal that then gives way to “a hilarious battle for reason, desire and the last word,” the company describes.

According to the synopsis of the work, “Central Park West” is an acidic comedy, in a single act, written by Woody Allen, with recurring themes of his work: conjugal betrayals, intellectual neuroses and the hypocrisy of New York high society.

History follows the simultaneous collapse of two marriages, with the continuous revelation of secrets and infidelities.

The action takes place at Phyllis Riggs' sophisticated apartment, a successful psychoanalyst in Manhattan. At first, Phyllis discovers that her husband, Sam, will trade her for another woman and accuses Carol, her best friend, of being her mistress. From here, the web of lies and betrayals involves all the characters and, in the end, Sam's revelation goes beyond what was expected.

One question arises from the beginning: what kind of woman is Phyllis Riggs, since even the people closest to this character seem to be eager to betray her.

It will be the psychoanalyst “a victim of circumstances or there will be something in it that attracts such disloyalty”, questions the Aloés Theatre, adding that in this play, Woody Allen exposes “with corrosive humor, the miseries and weaknesses of life to two”, especially in marriages “costs and friendships of convenience”.

“ Among accusations, resentments and unexpected revelations, the characters dissect each other with the conviction of those who think they are always right”, adds the Aloés Theatre, adding that “in this comedy of appearances, no one escapes the diagnosis”.

And “the most prepared to analyze others, they reveal themselves, the least capable of understanding themselves”, he concludes.

“Central Park West” was completed by Woody Allen in 1995 and premiered in February of that year at the Stamford Center in Connecticut, United States, before entering the New York Off-Broadway circuit, integrated into the Death Defying Acts trilogy, which also included Elaine May’s short pieces “Hotline”, and David Mamet’s “An Interview”.

The Portuguese version, “Infidelidades”, has translation by José Miguel Silva, is directed by Elsa Valentim and Jorge Silva, who also interpret, with Graciano Amorim, Joana Batalha and Patricia André.

The piece has a set by Rui Francisco, drawing of light and video by Aurélio Vasques, costumes by Dino Alves and music by Francisco Nogueira.

“Infidelities” is the 74th production of the Teatro dos Aloés and will be on the scene, in the Recreios da Amadora, from 18 to 23 this month, as well as on 28 and 29, with recitations from Monday to Saturday, at 9 p.m., and on Sunday, at 4 p.m.

On November 22nd and 29th, after the show, there will be a conversation of the artistic team with the public and, on the 29th, the session will have interpretation with Portuguese Sign Language and audio description.