Actor Manu Fanego stars in the theatrical production Le Frigo, written by the visionary Argentine writer Copi and directed by Tatiana Santana. In a recent appearance on the cultural program Mirada de Espectador broadcast on LaRz, Fanego detailed how the creative team approaches the play’s dense thematic material through physical performance and dark humor.
Building Madame Through Physicality and Ensemble Work
According to Manu Fanego, the creation of his character Madame evolved organically during rehearsals rather than through a rigid pre-planned method. He explained on Mirada de Espectador that the collaborative process with director Tatiana Santana helped the cast discover the small staging choices that anchor the production. Fanego noted that continuous work on the body, gestures, and text allows the character to develop fresh layers during each live performance.
Using Comedy to Navigate Heavy Dramatic Themes
Le Frigo tackles severe subjects including mental health, suicide, substance use, and complex power dynamics. To make these dark elements accessible on stage, the production relies heavily on humor as a theatrical device. Fanego explained that comedy provided the right mechanism to traverse territory that is initially heavy, deep, and menacing, summarizing the artistic philosophy with the observation that life involves comedy and tragedy almost simultaneously. Beyond his work on Le Frigo, the actor also reflected on his early artistic roots in music, clowning, and traditional theater, crediting his family with giving him the autonomy to pursue an artistic career based entirely on personal desire.
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