La Ternura (Tenderness)

written and directed by: Alfredo Sanzol
translation: Joan Lluís Bozzo

A comedy about woodcutters and princesses

Synopsis

Alfredo Sanzol was inspired by the universe of Shakespeare’s comedies to direct the production La ternura, a comedy about woodcutters and princesses in which he aims to convey how impossible it is to protect ourselves from the damage love can do to us, for if we want to love we must risk suffering. Premiered on 27 April 2017 on the stage of the Sala José Luis Alonso of the Teatro de La Abadía (Madrid), and in its Catalan version, with translation by Joan Lluís Bozzo, on 19 January at the Teatre Poliorama (Barcelona). The director once again relies on his trusted team, with set and costume design by Alejandro Andújar, lighting by Pedro Yagüe and music by Fernando Velázquez. The cast included Laura Aubert, Javier Beltrán, Elisabet Casanovas, Marta Pérez, Jordi Rico, Ferran Vilajosana and Albert Prat, who joined the tour. This show is a co-production of Dagoll Dagom and T de Teatre.

La ternura (Tenderness) tells the story of a somewhat magical queen and her two daughters, traveling on the Invincible Armada, forced by King Philip II to marry English nobles for convenience, after having invaded England. Queen Maragda hates men because they have always controlled her life and taken away her freedom, so she is not willing to let her daughters suffer the same fate. When the Armada passes close by an island that the queen believes to be deserted, she causes a great storm that sinks the ship they are sailing on. Her plan is to stay and live on that island with her daughters so that she will never have to see a man again. The problem is that they choose an island where for twenty years a woodcutter has lived with his two sons, who hid there so as never to see a woman again. When the queen and two princesses discover they are not alone, they disguise themselves as men for protection. And so begin the adventures, entanglements, infatuations and confusions.

In La ternura (Tenderness) one sees the influence of The Tempest and Twelfth Night, above all, but also As You Like It and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Games, deceit, changes of identity, confusion of personalities, spaces as magical elements, forests, islands… All this forms part of the Shakespearean imaginary world interiorized by Sanzol: “I want Tenderness to be a romantic comedy with deserted islands, monumental shipwrecks, fragile kings and dreaming queens, fearful woodcutters and tempestuous shepherds, magical beings, impossible situations, possible loves, identity changes, rampant passions, irrational hatreds, incendiary desires, surprising twists, drunken ghosts, apparitions, disappearances, encounters, disagreements, and one desire they all share: the desire to find tenderness somehow, anywhere, with someone.»

For Sanzol, parents should not protect children from the sufferings of life, because that would jeopardize their experience of a full life. According to the director, the show is entitled La ternura (Tenderness) “because it is about the strength and the courage to love. Tenderness is the way love is expressed. Without tenderness, love is not seen. Tenderness is caresses, listening, small gestures, smiles, kisses, waiting, respect, delicacy. A society without tenderness is a society at war”.

Credits

Text and direction: Alfredo Sanzol

Translation: Joan Lluís Bozzo

Performers: Laura Aubert, Elisabet Casanovas, Javier Beltrán, Marta Pérez, Jordi Rico and Ferran Vilajosana

Substitutions in the cast: Albert Prat

Set design and costumes: Alejandro Andújar
Lighting: Pedro Yagüe
Original music: Fernando Velázquez
Sound: Damià Martínez
Characterization: Eva Fernandez
Executive production: Anna Rosa Cisquella and Daniel López-Orós

Assistant director: Carolina Morro
Assistant set and costume designer: Maria Albadalejo

Head technician: Rubèn Taltavull
Stage manager: Marta Garolera
Lighting operator: Dani Guerrero
Sound operator: Roger Giménez
Machinist: Jordi Fort
Transport: Miguel Yuste

Head of production and administration: Natàlia Obiols
Communication and marketing: Anna Candelas
Press officer: Marta Suriol (La Costa Comunicació)
Production assistant: José Luis Segador
Communication and marketing assistant: Roberta Romero

Graphic design: Jordi Rins
Photography: David Ruano
Video: Mar Orfila
Web: Marc Permanyer
Set construction: May, Manuel Álvarez, Jordi Fort, María Calderón, Sol Curiel and Joan Viscasillas
Wardrobe production: Maribel Rodríguez and María Calderón
Production of wigs: Fent i desfent

A production by Dagoll Dagom and T de Teatre in collaboration with the Teatro de la Ciudad and support from the ICEC of the Generalitat de Catalunya

Acknowledgements: Àgata Roca, Albert Ribalta and Punto Blanco

Show premiered at Barcelona’s Teatre Poliorama on 19 January 2019.