A donkey becomes the center of attention of spectators at the Olympia Theater in Valencia, where starting next Wednesday the theatrical production ‘Donkey’ will be performed, a role played by actor Carlos Hipólito. The piece, with dramaturgy by Álvaro Tato and direction and original music by Yayo Cáceres, two important pillars of the prestigious Ron Lalá company, is based on classic texts about donkeys.
Carlos Hipólito was in Valencia this week to present the play in which he stars, which comes backed by excellent reviews from the public and experts in the field and where the narrator of ‘Cuéntame’, an essential name in the theatre, gets under the skin of a donkey « wise” and “suffering.”
The theatrical production is a monologue, but Carlos Hipólito was in charge of clarifying that he is not alone on stage. «The ‘donkey’ speaks, sings and tells stories and is accompanied in some scenes by Fran García (musician and actor), Iballa Rodríguez (actress and musician) and Manuel Lavandera (guitar). The three accompany with their characters, voices and instruments the atmosphere of the scenes, the construction of the lyrical, epic and comic moments and the original songs, as part of a tradition that is sung and told,” highlighted the actor.
Hipólito pointed out during the presentation of the piece that the text that Álvaro Tato constructed “is of great beauty that, in addition, can make us reflect on many things,” in a kind of “tragicomic, fun, tender, poetic and profound journey.” . In his opinion, “the text reflects a kind of lament and a denunciation by the donkeys of the treatment received over the centuries.”
To develop the plot, the playwright has used fragments of classic texts about donkeys, research by Tato that has allowed us to discover that there are countless texts with the donkey as the protagonist. But, curiously, explained the protagonist of the piece, “only Juan Ramón Jiménez’s donkey had a name, something very symptomatic of the treatment that humans have given” to this animal. «There is ‘The Golden Ass’ by Apuleyo, ‘La Burromaquia’ by Gabriel Álvarez de Toledo, ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ by Shakespeare, ‘Dispute of the Ass’ by Charles Perrault passing through Cervantes and Rucio by Sancho Panza -which is not a name since Sancho called him Rucio because of the color of his hair- until reaching ‘Platero y yo’ by Juan Ramón Jiménez,” the actor explained.
In the play, a nameless donkey tied to a stake on an empty farm tells his life to his shadow as a forest fire approaches. The animal reviews what it has felt and seen throughout six thousand years of history.
Carlos Hipólito recalled that for the human race, donkeys have always been “the working class of animals.” «For a long time the donkey served us as a pack animal and I don’t know who decided at a certain moment in our distant history that donkey was going to be synonymous with stupid because the donkey is not a stupid animal at all, quite the opposite.» .
Thus, «’Burro’ raises an inquiry into asinine clichés, about his alleged stupidity and stubbornness, laziness, and even sadness. “A song to the donkey in the key of bitter comedy through his voice and also a thunderous bray against injustice and violence.”
For Hipólito, his favorite of the donkeys is the donkey that acts as the narrator. «He is a wise donkey, but not at all pedantic. “Very naive, innocent and with a lot of kindness and great acuity when analyzing the things that have happened to him in his life.” He acknowledged that it is a “complicated” role because throughout the story many characters appear that he plays with that donkey narrator as the axis.
Regarding his characterization to play the donkey, the actor explained that he is a “very disguised” donkey but without the need to wear any costume that could evoke the figure of the animal.
The work has an “essential” staging that is reminiscent of “the empty environment of nature,” according to Hipólito, who gets to play fourteen characters.
‘Burro’ will remain on display at the Olympia Theater in Valencia from April 17 to 21.
2024-04-12 00:30:28
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