Smiley, després de l’amor

A new stage for Àlex and Bruno

Eight years after the premiere of Smiley, Barcelona’s breakout comedy of the 2012/13 season, its protagonists return in this sequel. The unforgettable Àlex and Bruno meet the audience again to reveal what has happened to them and face problems that are more mature and deeper, but just as funny as in the original, turning the new production into an instant success and proving that sequels can be every bit as good.

Eight years ago Guillem Clua premiered Smiley, Una història d’amor, a comedy that successfully played at three Barcelona venues before travelling to Madrid and, in translation, to countries across Europe and the Americas, including New York City. The play became a phenomenon, bringing a romantic comedy starring two men—with a happy ending and a cinematic kiss—into the mainstream.

The author explains that this success was a tempting invitation to revive the play, but it also raised the question of how long a relationship, however theatrical, should remain frozen in one particular moment. Human relationships, and especially romantic ones, evolve through living together, which is not always a positive experience. What would have become of this couple after so much time? Would they still be together? Would they have overcome their deep differences and built a lasting relationship? Or would they have lasted less than two days once the fireworks had faded? Would they be monogamous or in an open relationship? Happy or unhappy?

Smiley, Després de l’amor answers all these questions and more. Much has changed since then. Barcelona is no longer the same, audiences have evolved, and so have we. We have all grown older, starting with the characters themselves. If Àlex and Bruno were to return to the stage, they had to talk about different subjects: the crisis of turning forty, parenthood, marriage, the end of youth and the loss of innocence. They had to star in a new play written and conceived for 2020, created by the original team: Guillem Clua (text and direction), Ramon Pujol (Àlex) and Albert Triola (Bruno). Together with La Brutal, they joined forces to produce a new show that, despite the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic, won over audiences and unanimous critical approval from its first day. Some even say it surpasses its predecessor.