Theatrical Representation Module
“GESTAS DE PAPA UBU”
“Gestas de Papá Ubú” is a play written by Raúl
Hernández Garrido under the
direction of Paco Maciá with
the collaboration of Isabel Úbeda. This play is
represented by Compañia Ferroviaria de Artes Escénicas. We saw the
play on
The
plot that the play follows is essentially the desire and the achievement of the
power of everything by the main actor. The protagonist with this power does
whatever he wants with people. He is a tyrannic
person who does not worry about others. This character has a very narrow
relation with some people nowadays.
In
this play a lot of characters appear, at least fourteen, whom are representated by only eight actors. The role of, Ubú, is very authoritarian, selfish, greedy, avaricious, murdererous, deceiving. He is very ambitious, pretentious,
he wants to dominate everything. The plot is based on the power of Ubú, first he achieves it and after he utilizes it to do
whatever he wants. He has a loud tone of voice, which shows the authority that
he has. During the whole play he is making insults and blasphemies. It is his
character, his way. There are other characters that are also important, such as
Mamá Ubú, Monomonarca and Mandamás. This
characters are under the orders of Papá Ubú. During the representation they are, Mamá Ubú more than the others,
centred around the protagonist because he is very authoritarian. In many times
the fight to achieve the control of everything is in fact a fight (the fight
with Monomonarca, for example). There are some
curious facts as Mamá Ubú
is unfaithful to her husband with Monomonarca. In
conclusion, the protagonist is very rude, dictatorial and arrogant. The rest of
the characters play out their role but following Papá
Ubú.
The
plot of the play develops over many scenes, but on the same stage. The
decoration changes continuously because the action is very fast. There are
people who change the elements that are used to play that scene. Many elements
are used such as a “trampilla”,
a ring in which Papá Ubú
fights against Monomonarca, etc. The “trampilla” is
used on many occasions, that is to say, this element is used in different ways
during the play, Papá Ubú
throws people inside it as he kill them, he used as a bath too and also used it
when he has a son, who gets out of it. The ring is formed by four persons and
ropes, that is a simulation of a real one.
Talking
about the illumination, I can say that it is very normal, i.e., the lights are
white, they illuminate all the stage but with penumbrae and shadows. There are
not coloured lights. The lights are put on the ceiling of the stage and on the
ceiling above the audience.
Concerning
the clothing, it is very strange. All the clothes that the actors wear are very
strange and unreal, because we do not wear these kind of clothes. All the
capes, trousers, etc. are the only other kind of clothes that are used in this
play. I think that the clothes reflect the uncommonness of the play.
I
have described some elements that are used in this play, such as the “trampilla” and
the simulation of a ring, but there are more elements. Some bars are used to
simulate a jail. And the “trampilla” is used on more
occasions such as when Papá Ubú
eat his watermelon.
The
ambience on the room was positive, because during the play the characters say
some comical, funny or humorous sentences. The audience laughed at them. There
was a sense of humour that gives the play a lift.
My
opinion of this play is that it reflects some aspects of life that are present
today. The avarice of people, the selfishness of a lot of people, the anxieties
to get power from other things or persons, all of these features that Papá Ubú and the other characters
show us are present in our society, though we do not realise it. Thanks to
things such as this play, we would realise that our society is like Papa Ubú’s, very selfish, ambitious, etc. I like this play
because of that.