Artículo publicado en el diario «La Nueva España» el 15 de septiembre de 2020.

maxi rodriguez

We chased the “Margen” van, longing to one day be in there, traveling sitting, side by side, with Cancio, Monchi, Margarita, Telvi, Arturo, Miguel Ángel, Jose Lobato… “Margen” was our reference, the native “Comediants” , the Asturian brand of the Independent Theater that represented us around the world. We vocational actors of the last century entertained our adolescence admiring the great performers we had at our side. In Asturias there was no approved theater school and those of us who wanted to be professionals went to the “Margen” courses as soon as possible, we followed them at each gig, we enjoyed their performances and - eager to gain experience - we gave them a hand (meritoriousness, years 80) to raise the power stages to the van.

One day, when I was 14 years old, I saw “The Galas of the Deceased” at the Pola de Lena Institute and from then on I fixed my gaze on that blue van with “Margen” on the door, wondering at every intersection where they would perform, what play they would do. , I have to see them, I have to get there. Idols. As is well.

Great artists facing the eternal challenge of the peripheral actor, which was not to be perfect, but to be complete. Indoor shows, street shows, for adults, children... Everything fit in that van. And among so much talent, Jose “el Pelos”, one of the greats, the Jaminín of “De vita Beata”, a type of deep and powerful voice that, if you had the privilege of working with him, you knew that he gave you everything and he made himself loved. The job and time brought me to his side. We agree on several jobs. And, via Ujo Taruelo on behalf of güela, we shared a multitude of confidences about the stubborn decision to fight from Asturias to dignify the profession. He suffered for so many years from the lack of theatrical politics in this region, without a stable circuit, with humanity facing itself in stables, sports centers or parish centers, that perhaps this prompted him to jump into politics, to remove masks from important positions. . An absolutely committed actor.

Jose Lobato was one of the greats, a great actor who shone on the Asturian scene, that euphemism that ends up looking condescendingly at those at home and meaning nothing, which is like breaking the stone and “we'll call you if there's no money and those outside fail.” Fortunately, time made its brilliance and capacity cross borders: important film titles, national television series...

But I prefer to remember Josín sharing short film shoots with gourds that were starting to roll. There I saw the greatness of a great, immense actor, giving everything for nothing, enjoying the unwavering commitment to his craft and to himself.

-You go mancate.

-Another take, ho? I went head first! 

I took his seat in that legendary van when it changed its sign, “Teatro del Norte”, and I got on his stilts in the show “Carlota Corday” by Etelvino Vázquez. I always felt that, in some way, it was following in the footsteps of one of my idols. The last times we saw each other were a matter of celebration: A tribute at the Bueño Film Festival, the Silver Medal from the city of Oviedo, the OH! of Honor… Moments of jokes with friends, of shared outbursts, of endearing evocation…

A big hug to Gladys, to all her friends and family.

One of the greats is leaving us. Great countryman. An actor, a gentleman.