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 24th  November 2005 at L’Altre Espai.

 

            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.