Actress Maria Paula Marini is in the cast of “Something’s Missing Here,” a play directed by Stella Rabello and written by Bernardo Coimbra, which premieres on October 3rd at Teatro Domingos Oliveira. Running until the 26th, with showings on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 7 pm, the production proposes a disorganized timeline to address the excess of information and absences that permeate contemporary life.
Maria Paula, “Something’s Missing Here” was born from creative encounters between friends and has evolved over the years. How has this collaborative process impacted your vision as an actress and as a person?
It had a profound impact. I think performing in a group is essential for any actor. This collaborative process, of existing only through and because of others, of accumulating roles, rooting for each other, suffering together, is what motivates me most and makes my eyes shine the brightest when I act.
The play’s text deals with information overload and the shortcomings of modern life. Was there anything in this process that made you reflect on your own “shortcomings” or excesses?
Of course! The artistic process always ends up touching us personally, and the text was created by Be (Bernardo Coimbra) through our conversations and perceptions of the world. So, much of what we talk about in the text has already been discussed or thought about among us at some point.
You mentioned that working with your best friends is very special. What moves you most or makes you enjoy being on this show with Bernardo, Carol, and Sued?
Everything! We have a very deep understanding of each other, and this shines through on screen. The way we listened to each other and got to know each other was truly beautiful during the creation and improvisation process. And, of course, it’s wonderful to have them with us to share the anxieties of getting a project off the ground.
What were the biggest challenges in keeping the play alive during this long creation and rehearsal process?
Besides being actors, we’re the creators and, therefore, somewhat of the play’s producers. So, the hardest part was dealing with all the external bureaucracy. We thought having the script, the actors, and the direction were enough (laughs). And not letting these small and large real-world bureaucracies discourage us was quite challenging.
You have experience in television, film, theater, and dance. How do each of these influence the other in your work?
They are inseparable. Of course, each language requires different modes and nuances, but I am always there, present and in play. Therefore, any experience, regardless of format, directly influences others, because there are more experiences that this same body is accumulating and exchanging.
What did Letícia from “A Wolf Among the Swans” and Andrea from “Matches” teach you as an actress that you take to the stage today?
They’re both bold, fearless characters who know what they want. And I think they gave me a confidence and a sense of “godó” that I had to find within myself, and that still does me a world of good!
You say theater is your first love. Is there a specific moment on stage that made you certain this would be your life?
Yes! My first play, when I was 8. My character was named Maria Amélia, and I still remember her lines and the feeling I felt with the audience’s laughter and reactions. I remember the curtain closing and thinking I wanted to do this forever.
What do you hope audiences take home after watching “Something’s Missing Here”?
I think this play is an ode to theater, to theatrical language. We use a lot of interference and fourth-wall breaking, metalanguage. I particularly love it when theater remembers that it’s theater, and I like it when the play takes the viewer out of a passive place. We hope to do this with the audience in our play. And of course, I’d like them to be moved by these stories and reflect on their own lives and the world.
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