And what seemed impossible happened. Beto is no longer there.
A few days ago I spoke with Saula Benavente, his partner, who never stopped being by his side for a second. The doctors’ verdict was gloomy and forceful, they predicted a quick outcome. But Saula put into words what we all felt: “But did you see? What do I know… It’s Beto…”
For those of us who had the privilege of knowing him, there was no need for anything else. Beto, that larger than life human being, was not going to be caught by the grim reaper. It was impossible. Something was going to occur to him.
But here we are, writing a farewell, I do nothing but think about him, and like in Serrat’s song, nothing comes to mind. I don’t want a farewell, I want to write him a letter, the one I never wrote to him, perhaps because I thought he was immortal.
Beto dear, I have so much to thank you for. You don’t know what I learned from you. You can’t imagine how much I thank life for giving me your friendship, your trust, your coffees, your teachings, your stories and your strength.
The optimism with which you approach all projects fills all of us who work with you with enthusiasm. Your favorite phrase (“this is a bearer check!”) is the slogan with which you taught me to approach everything I do, even if I know it as a loser, because if we work with enthusiasm and enjoyment, IT IS a bearer check.
You taught all of us who share the theater with you to know the audience, even if we don’t know their names. To understand their rhythm, their humor, their fatigue… And how well you knew them! In three or four minutes you knew if today was for humor or reflection. I don’t know if they will ever find out that every feature of yours is a custom feature.
Your love of theater is contagious! And he’s not interested at all! Whether it was a resounding success, or a work that you enjoy more on stage than below, you have not missed that event not a single season since 1961. I don’t know if there is another actor in Argentina with that record. While you were making almost 100 films and I don’t know how many television shows at the same time, you didn’t miss that daily date on stage and with the audience for anything. What a lesson for so many actors who need long breaks between projects to regain energy!
Your energy is inexhaustible. I remember the 2015 runoff. We were on tour with Lezama Park in Montevideo. After the two shows on Saturday the team needed a rest to face the two shows on Sunday. But you took a plane at dawn, you voted in Buenos Aires, and you returned by Buquebus to do both functions. Who can consider not going to fulfill their civic duty if they shared time with you?
There was only one thing you loved more than the theater: Argentina. we were rehearsing Lezama Park in Madrid when PASO on the 19th. That night we spent together watching the results until five in the morning. The next day, while half the country celebrated, the other half fell into deep discouragement. A timid call for a march arises on the networks, but it does not take off. Days before the march, we were having dinner and you came in agitated. “I was thinking about a text to send to people. I need you to film me.” The next day before starting the rehearsal we filmed that video. We published it and began the trial. Four hours later, the video had already reached us all from many friends, and was the catalyst for the march that almost turned the game around.
Do you remember when they banned you during the dictatorship? When did they suck you? Like so many other artists you went into exile, but you were the only one who couldn’t stand it. While others affirmed their lives and careers in other countries, you were able to withstand the distance and you returned. The ban did not extend to the theater and you were able to continue with your daily meeting with the public. But what to do the rest of the day? Well, being at the head of the Argentine Association of Actors in the most difficult period of the 20th century sounded good to you.
And there you were, side by side with your beloved Carlos Carella and Rivera López, who were no less loved because they belonged to another party or had other ideas. Hard times, but in which the artists were more faithful to their affections than to supposed leaders who fuel division. I saw how your eyes shined with admiration when you talked about Carella’s talent, an actor that you loved and admired, as an artist and human being. Thank you for teaching me to value talent and humanity over any ideology.
But at some point this endless source is going to run out, Beto, and you are going to have to download the work. What moment would you choose? Let’s see, let’s think about an argument, what do you think of this one? The guy had enormous success from his first days in the profession, he has loves, daughters he loves, popularity, talent and then he goes through the necessary second act of problems. Tell him that they prohibit it, but that the guy resists in the theater and fighting for culture.
Then he returns to having commercial success in all media, then again comes the conflict, they cancel him, but in the theater he continues facing one project after another, but thinking that they are all a bearer check, and finally, when many would take on the habit of gardening in their nursing home, he begins a new love, sees his children grow well, has renewed success with wonderful jobs, and finally, he finishes all this, surrounded by the admiration of millions, and in the room they take him by the hand to help him get through the gate, his love, Carlitos Rottemberg, his best friend, his daughter and his grandson… if I offer you that argument, will you sign? How can you not sign, Beto, you sign and anyone else can sign! If that way to go is a bearer check!
That’s why I don’t want to write you a goodbye letter. This letter is one of gratitude and, above all, congratulations for an enviable life.
