«We do white humor because the future looks very dark.» This is the leitmotiv of ‘Blanc i Negre’, the acid comedy that Purna Teatre will premiere this Saturday, the 22nd, at Sala L’Horta, as part of the cycle dedicated to the young and adult audience by the cultural center of Castellar-l’Oliveral.
The Valencian company celebrates its 25th anniversary with a show performed by Xavo Giménez and Pau Blanco that criticizes the establishment of puritanism, political correctness, and the «return of dark times.»
True to their commitment to social and political criticism, Giménez and Blanco aim their bayonets at censorship in this work. And they do it in a very curious way: by self-censoring themselves to the point of turning this show into «a perfect example of white humor.»
We travel to the underworld of the National Censorship Office of the Ministry of Tourism and Propaganda. Two gray men mark in red everything that the manual deems inappropriate. Culture is a loaded gun, and the heroic mission of these two upright men is to review and correct any hint of licentiousness. «There won’t even be a title left of this work,» joke the company.
«This work is a response to everything we have been experiencing in the Valencian Country lately. The gray times are back,» explains Pau Blanco, who stars in and co-writes this piece alongside Xavo Giménez.
Just as they did with ‘De fora vindrem’, where they pointed out the gentrification of cities, they have now decided to «get into the fray» to the point of censoring themselves: «Because even though at Purna Teatre we have always been critical of other ideals and positions, we like to start by looking in the mirror and seeing our own negative aspects as well.»
In ‘Blanc i Negre’, the audience will see live how they self-censor their work little by little to be able to continue living within the performing arts sector.
Xavo Giménez, who is not only the author of the text but also the creator of the set design and the director of the piece, has included references to many different types of theater, from Monty Python to Theatre of the Absurd, police comedies like ‘Fargo,’ and even delving a bit into the universe of La Teta Calva.
SOAP BUBBLES TURNED INTO PUPPETS
Sala L’Horta, which was recognized last week with the Cultural Merit Award ‘Ciutat de València,’ will continue its programming this Sunday, the 23rd, with a show that invites young children to discover the surprising aesthetic possibilities of soap bubbles.
‘En els núvols’ is a very visual and poetic piece that features live music by singer-songwriter Clara André. It tells the story of a boy who sometimes feels different and lonely because he tends to travel with his imagination to the clouds.
«The play talks about how not all children play in the same way, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Some rely more on their inner world than others, but in the end, we all have common points that allow us to establish friendships,» says Carlos Amador, creator of the show and co-founder of La Negra alongside playwright Diego Guill, Xavo Giménez, and Merce Tienda (specialized in object manipulation).
This company was created with the aim of developing children’s shows that address the different, the lonely, or the rejected through a poetic and visual language. It has undergone a year-long research process to explore all the possibilities of soap in the performing arts.
«During the performance, we create foam clouds live on stage, as well as different types of soap bubbles, and even turn them into puppets, which surprises not only the youngest audience but the whole family. It’s a show where all elements, from colors to light and volumes, are very friendly,» Amador reveals.
At the end of the show, the company members offer to explain to parents the tricks so they can recreate the same bubble games at home.
