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Wilfredo is a fictional comedy character portrayed by the British comedian Matt Roper. The character is an obnoxious, deluded and uncouth satire of a romantic singer characterized in a Commedia dell'arte style. Wilfredo has acquired a cult status,〔(Brighton Fringe Interview - Matt Roper, Komedia ), The New Current, retrieved 8 January 2012〕 particularly among music festival audiences and on the alternative cabaret and comedy circuit in London. Roper has toured the character internationally, performing in Spain,〔() Showtime Tenerife: Wilfredo, Kai Humphries, Daniel Simonsen, Jessica Fostekew - Sept 20 2014〕 Italy,〔(Corriere del Mezzogiorno ) Wilfredo, il Rock visto da Granada〕〔(ConnectMagazine.it ) Wilfredo, Un Uomo e La Sua Musica. A Nardò il fenomeno lounge dell'Inghilterra〕 the Czech Republic,〔() Alex Frackleton, Wilfredo (UK) Open Air Metamorphisis. Hradec Králové, Czech Rep. Fri 27 June 2014〕 Germany,〔() 'KarliBebenRückschau' Karli Beben - Feinkost Blog Sept 2014〕 Hungary,〔(The Daily Hungary ) 'Unique Character Act To Perform in Budapest' Daily Hungary 21 June 2014〕 Slovakia,〔(The Slovakia Daily ) 'Character Performer in Bratislava on Thursday' Slovakia Daily 21 June 2014〕 South Africa,〔() 'Cape Town Funny Festival: Line-up' Expressoshow.com 11 June 2013〕 Australia〔(AdelaideFringe.com.au ) Adelaide Fringe: An Unforgettable Evening with the Magnificent Wilfredo 1–15 March 2015〕 and Argentina.〔() Inside Buenos Aires 10–17 March 2014〕〔(What's Up Gringo? Magazine ) Feeling Funny In Buenos Aires? You’re not alone.〕 ==Character origins and appearance== Physically, the character of Wilfredo is a grotesque caricature of Falstaffian appearance: trousers pulled up to the top of a corpulent stomach, a tight flamenco shirt, a wild black mop wig and a set of prominent prosthetic teeth. Typically, the character will always hold a pint of beer on stage, even whilst dancing and singing. He smokes his way throughout songs, salivating over the audience and musicians while berating them with rich expletives. Critics have described the character as "a wonderful and vile creation",〔(Broadway Baby Editor Review - Edinburgh Festival Fringe ), Broadway Baby, retrieved 8 January 2012〕 "strangely endearing",〔(Wilfredo: Erecto! Review - Edinburgh Festival Fringe ), Chortle.com, retrieved 8 January 2012〕 "joyful and grin-inducing",〔(STV - Shows We're Lovin' by Michael MacLennan ), STV: Wilfredo's Erecto hits unexpected high points, retrieved 8 January 2012〕 and "utterly charming and uplifting".〔(ED2011 Wilfredo: Erecto! Review - Three Weeks ), Three Weeks, retrieved 8 January 2012〕 The character began his life onstage performing cover versions of songs by Leonard Cohen, Phil Spector, Amy Winehouse and the Rolling Stones. In an interview with the student media, Roper stated: “My father was a trad comic so I grew up around a lot of the old school; people like Frankie Howerd and lots of music hall acts. I’d be taken to theatres and all these smoky clubs where there was always a mad speciality artist or a singer in a spangly outfit or a dinner suit onstage, crooning covers. Wilfredo comes from that world for sure.” Elsewhere in the same interview, Roper said he hoped Wilfredo “offers escape”.〔 Roper has constructed an entire life history and family background to Wilfredo and updates audiences through his performance. The character hails from Granada in Spain, the fourth son of a fourth son,〔 a gifted child prodigy who evolved into a national singing star. The character is always accompanied by a guitarist onstage, often by Katie Pollak in the role of Mana Maria,〔 the younger sister of Wilfredo. The character of Maria wears identical teeth and hair, although pop socked and bespectacled. She is the polar opposite of Wilfredo: where Wilfredo is brash and loud, Maria in contrast is totally mute and performed in a subtle style. On occasion (as at the 2011 Edinburgh Festival) Kris Howe may accompany - also in character - as Wilfredo's 'Uncle' Ignacio.〔 Wilfredo’s life story is juxtaposed with real life historical events into which Wilfredo is fictionally placed: an appearance at the Benidorm International Song Contest Festival for example is claimed,〔(Exclusive Interview - Christmas Wilfredo and Other Beautiful Creatures, London ), The New Current, retrieved 8 January 2012〕 as is a friendship and a near collaboration with Serge Gainsbourg.〔 Throughout his performances Wilfredo introduces songs from a fictional back catalogue of bestselling albums, with titles ranging from El Chico En El Toro (the Boy on the Bull) to Solo Para Las Damas (Only For The Ladies).〔(Youtube.com - Wilfredo in performance at the Komedia for the Brighton Festival Fringe ), YouTube: Wilfredo in performance at the Komedia for the Brighton Festival Fringe, retrieved 9 January 2012〕 The boorish and outlandish Wilfredo is delusional, believing himself to be the apotheosis of masculinity and all that is attractive to women. This arrogance is counterbalanced by a charm which in turn endears him to audiences.〔〔〔 The origin of the name lies in Latin America, meaning 'to desire peace'. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Wilfredo (character)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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