On Wednesdays and Thursdays, Patrícia Candoso, Inês Oneto and Diana Herzog present a play with the theme of motherhood – and life after the arrival of children.
Three new mothers leave the virtual world of maternity groups on WhatsApp to get to know each other at a bar table. And what happens when these mothers with different lives, stories and expectations meet in the real world? This is the motto of the bittersweet comedy Vale Night, a play written by Renata Mizrahi that is back at the Samambaia bar, in Graça, where it will be performed every Wednesday and Thursday from October 4th.
On stage are Patrícia Candoso, Inês Oneto and Diana Herzog, who give life, respectively, to the characters Virgínia, Carla and Paula. Virginia is a mother of four children, married for 15 years, and a practical and objective woman, she questions the rules, manuals, and her own relationship and is not willing to receive veiled criticism. Carla is a mother of one, married, apparently happy, trying to do everything exactly right, following all the “rules” to the letter, but in reality, she never chose to be there. Paula is a solo mother of one son, and a photographer and juggles the demands of her freelance career with the demands of raising a child alone. The characters’ stories are brought to the scene in a light manner, without losing depth by revealing the pressure that women suffer when becoming a mother and the loneliness felt, but often silenced and overshadowed on social media.
Renata Mizrahi is also the general supervisor of the Portuguese production, which is directed by Diana Herzog and co-directed by Nina Morena. Vale Night is staged at a “site-specific”, the Samambaia Bar. The public has the opportunity to watch a play that takes place in a bar, sitting at a bar table, where the spaces between stage and the audience decrease and bring the audience closer to the actresses. Samambaia Bar, a space recognized for hosting renowned national and international musicians, and now also opened its doors to theatre. Audiences can arrive before the play for happy hour, dinner and snacks and/or also stay after the performance for a few more drinks. It will certainly be a new experience for many.
It is Patrícia Candoso’s return to the stage, after becoming a mother for the second time, in a Portuguese-Brazilian production that not only embraces these two cultures but also reveals the transversality of motherhood.
“Giving life to a character who has a personality and a vision about things that surround her so different from mine, but who at the same time shares the same dreams and challenges that motherhood has brought… has been the biggest challenge in this project. It’s so easy to empathize with these three women and identify with one or the other. That’s what makes this piece so real”, says Patrícia Candoso.
The Whatsapp group, which at first seems to be the only link between the three, is in fact just the starting point for a great meeting, as together they will realize that they are subjected to the same pressures, demands, blame. “We want to provoke reflection on how mothers of babies are today. We are bombarded with information, shared in Whatsapp groups, which acts as a support tool, alleviates loneliness, but does not solve the social oppression suffered by women as soon as they become a mother”, explains Renata.
‘Vale Night’ is the debut of Renata Mizrahi in Portugal, a recognized and award-winning author and director in Brazil, and it is also a personal project of hers, as she felt the desire to write again about subjects that are part of her routine and circles of friendship, as occurred in the plays ‘Os sapos’ and ‘Galápagos, both award-winning shows that were highly successful with audiences and critics.
Technical sheet:
General Supervision: Renata Mizrahi
Text: Renata Mizrahi
Director: Diana Herzog
Co-direction: Nina Morena
Cast: Diana Herzog, Inês Oneto and Patrícia Candoso
Lighting: André Luiz Alvim
Photography: Flávia Montenegro
Scene Photography: Alex Herzog
Executive production: Diana Herzog and Inês Oneto
Service
“Vale Night” show
Season: October 4th to October 26th.
Samambaia Bar: Rua da Voz do Operário, 13 – Graça, Lisbon Telephone: 914 312 355
Days and times: Tuesdays and Wednesdays, at 8 pm.
Tickets: €12 and €10 (with discount)
Advance sale via Teatrovalenight@gmail.com or DM Instagram of the play @valenight_teatro
Duration: 55min
Capacity: 50 people Age Rating: 12 years old.
There will be no show on October 18th.
Always confirm with the concert hall or promoter the conditions of access, confirmation of the date or time, ticket place of sale, price, and availability.
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, and TikTok and see the exclusive content for social networks.
