Tower of the church of Santa Catalina. La Solana (Ciudad Real). Photograph of (c) Mariola Díaz-Cano.

Today you are going to allow me to leave aside reviews, celebrations, news or reviews of great literature from yesterday, today and tomorrow. Last Easter, one goes to his town and usually reconnects with friends who are still there for a little while. TO one of those friends, dating back to childhood, this article is dedicated.

To wear theater in the blood and being the author, actress and director of her own works, in addition to adapting or participating in other. As your case, there will surely be many more. Anonymous playwrights from so many other places, unknown to the general public but highly recognized by theirs. Knowledgeable as no one of the idiosyncrasy of a town and its inhabitants and who are capable of reflecting it and reflecting them in a three-way work. Like Mari Carmen Rodríguez. It goes for all of them.

Beginnings

I've known Mari Carmen since we were seven years old and I arrived as a new student at the San Luis Gonzaga school in my town. Let's say that a little while ago. At that age, and being new, it all comes down to adapting, meeting the rest of the girls and making first friends. The San Luis Gonzaga then was not mixed and it was run by the Daughters of Charity. My first vivid memories of her they are of 3º of EGB watching her write on the board when that tremendous Sister Emilia made us go out. Mari Carmen is left-handed and I was fascinated to see her.

Later, showing both self-confidence and creativity, for school parties at Christmas or end of year, Mari Carmen was in charge of writing her own plays. Also I chose the cast between which we wanted to participate and he gave us the characters exactly according to our personality (and appearance). Of course, he directed us and also reserved a secondary role but with weight.

He used to give me the role of the handsome and good boy who was the boyfriend, friend or helped the protagonist. Because of course, lThe male characters we made them like the Greek classics but in reverse. I was just happy to paint a mustache with a burnt cork and put on a jacket and tie from my father. That I also got a piece of paper like that was the last straw.

The title that remains intact in my memory of one of those works is Poison against poison, which already says a lot about what could go. There was always some mystery, crime or mistake that, naturally, ended up being solved and well.

Present

With interpretation in her blood, I emphasize that Mari Carmen's merit continues to be writing her own works, directing and interpreting them, now in her own theater workshop, The colosseum casserole, within the association AFAMMER (Association of Families and Rural Women), which he chairs. In addition, it is part of the solanera theater company Margarita Xirgu.

Resume

In the company Margarita Xirgu.

• Atrabilisby Laila Ripoll. She played a bitter and envious spinster named Daria.
• Green tiles. Monologues. A series of characters denounce the torture that was committed in Chile at the time of Pinochet. She was the Tell-tale.
• Presas, by Ignacio del Moral and Verónica Fernandez. I could see her masterfully interpreting Mari Cruz the rebel.
• La casa de Bernarda Alba, from Lorca, where Martirio was.
• Some love that does not killby Dulce Chacón. Monologues against gender violence.