'Don Juan Tenorio', semi-performed dramatized reading in Reial Cercle Artístic
- Iggy Planas
- Nov 18, 2019
- 3 min read
Last Saturday at 19h in Barcelona's Reial Centre Artístic took place a semi-performed dramatized reading of Zorrilla's 'Don Juan Tenorio' by La Coquera Teatro, where I took again the part of Ciutti within the play. The dramatized reading took a great acceptance on the assisting ones because since it was a reduced seat play (from around 25-30 people) with prior bookings, an intimate and close ambience was created on the several spots where we performed the play's different acts in that building with unique architectural beauty.
What is the play about?
Don Juan Tenorio makes a vile bet with don Luis Mejía consisting in charming in record time not only a naive novice but also his enemy Luis Mejía’s fiancée.
Don Juan Tenorio achieves his goals: he fools his rival’s fiancée and kidnaps the seventeen-year-old noble lady doña Inés from her convent. But don Juan falls madly in love with her and decides to ask her father, the commander don Gonzalo de Ulloa for her hand in marriage.
Don Gonzalo de Ulloa and don Luis Mejía appear enraged at the seducer’s house to confront him. Don Juan Tenorio fights against both gentlemen, killing them on the way. But authorities tighten the grip around the seducer, and he must flee from Seville, leaving her loving doña Inés behind.
After several years, Don Juan comes back to Seville, only to find that his palace had become a pantheon where all his victims are buried. These victims still have pending issues with him and, during a single night, don Juan Tenorio must confront the spirits of the ones he fooled long ago and try to find salvation for his impure soul.
Thanks to all the assisting audience for all the support, comprehension and interest and for taking part with us in this semi-performed dramatized reading as street theatre plays around the different sports in Reial Centre Artístic. I want to especially thank Miguel Herrero, who didn't only find some time to attend, but also for his work as a photographer and for taking such great frames (which I will be posting around this post). I hope, on my partners and I side, that as the audience you were able to enjoy this eve in the same way or more than we did performing the play to all of you. A million thanks!
I also want to thank greatly to the rest of the cast members for knowing how to cope with the circumstances, giving the best of themselves on stage. A special mention to María Moralo, our Doña Inés, for daring to face this character and learning her lines and movements in 'almost' record time and with only a few rehearsals. To the rest of my companion, I must acknowledge the work performed last Saturday. In comparison with our performance in UPC, it's quite noticeable that we improved on the level and lots of disposition and will by your side both for the newcomers in the project and the veteran ones on it, something that was reflected on the environment which made us perform in the best way we could. To all of you, thank you very much for making me feel comfortable a safe on scene and for the job performed. I hope to count on you again on future performances of Don Juan Tenorio!
Finally, I would like to thank Alberto Rizzo for taking the weight of this project on his shoulders once again as artistic director, though this year we had some counselling of scenic fights by Oriol Escalé and some of us, me included, have directed some of the play's acts. On the other hand, I want to acknowledge to Barcelona's Reial Cercle Artístic's staff members for this chance, their reception and help given, we expect to not have caused many inconveniences, and we hope to come back again to that wonderful and unique place that can be seen in the pictures. I also want to add a special mention to Albert Torra for helping us to manage the formal procedures for performing there in a fast way, and whom we thank for all his support and implication. A million thanks!
'Don Juan Tenorio' closes another chapter, this has been the third time participating in this project. For the time being, we do not expect to have more performances of this piece in the near future. However, we don't discard the idea of turning this project into a formal theatre play, without semi-performed dramatized readings, for the years to come. From now on, we will have to wait, but I'll keep you informed. With no more to say, see you in the following post!
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