No hay burlas con el amor

Artistic credits

Address: Juan Polanco

Poetry direction: Karmele Aranburu

Projections, costumes, puppets: Monica Florensa

Cast: Alberto Arcos, Claudia Salas, Susana Martíns, Enrique Melendez, and Antonio Ponce

Original music: Jaume Carreras

Lighting: David Payo

Sound space: David Flores

Set design: Javier Mateo

Makeup, hairstyling: Ana Rubio Medina

Graphic design: The Keeval Company

Image: ArTIKA

Audiovisuals: Ángel Lafuente, Julia de Santiago, Olaf G. Schneeweiss, Raúl Escudero, Aurora Arroyo Ruiz, and Rodrigo Uceda.

This adaptation of No hay burlas con el amor respects the meter and rhythm that Calderón de la Barca gave to this comedy, in which all kinds of situations that occurred in the love affairs of that era converge in an entertaining and sometimes hilarious way, inviting us today to reflect with humor on the human condition and the evolution of social relationships.

As a distinguishing feature, the aim has been to bring the verse closer to the audience by using "puppets" created after months of research by the director, actors, and set designer, so that from the beginning of the performance, the audience can enjoy, laugh, and be moved by them and the life that the actors bring to them, making this unique proposal converge with the situations and theatrical language that Calderón masterfully wrote and proposed more than 300 years ago.

Synopsis

The gallant Don Juan de Mendoza, tormented by the obstacles he encounters in securing his love for his lady, Doña Leonor Enríquez, seeks the help of his friend Don Alonso, famous for his skill in the arts of seduction and for his detachment from true feeling.

loving. Don Juan explains to Don Alonso what stands in the way of his plans: Doña Leonor is not the eldest daughter; her father, Don Pedro Enríquez, is a man jealous of his duty as guardian of his daughters' honor, and her eccentric older sister, Doña Beatriz, is determined to guard and censor Doña Leonor's every move.

The plot: Don Alonso will falsely make Beatriz fall in love with him using his seductive skills, but he will be confronted with this woman's "strange" condition: a way of speaking that exceeds the understanding and patience of everyone around her.

Juan de Polanco

An actor with an extensive professional career, he began his directing career with De

Fuera Vendrá… by Moreto, with more than twenty-five titles premiered, including

These include Don Juan Tenorio, Los locos de Valencia by Lope de Vega, Los Empeños de una casa by Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, Margarita la tornera (theatrical version) by José Zorrilla, and the musical Rocío no habita en el olvido, which was nominated for Best Director at the Musical Theater Awards...

In the field of education, it is worth highlighting the creation, together with Karmele Aranburu, of the Academia del Verso in Alcalá de Henares, where he was part of the teaching staff specializing in acting. He teaches courses on verse interpretation in collaboration with institutions such as the Olite Theater Festival, Pabellón 6 (Bilbao), Arte4 (Madrid), the Basque Actors' Union, EAB (San Sebastian), and others. He is currently the director of the Noíz Arte and Paladio theater companies.

Karmele Aramburu

An actress with solid training in the fields of verse, acting, classical theater, singing, and movement. From 2011 to 2013, she directed the Academia del Verso de Alcalá, a center specializing in teaching Golden Age theater. During these three years, she was responsible for the verse direction of the productions Los Empeños de una Casa by Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, La Discreta Enamorada, Los Locos de Valencia, and Doña Francisquita by Lope de Vega, with the Academia del Verso company directed by Juan Polanco.

Other shows in which he has worked as a verse specialist include Don Juan Tenorio by Zorrilla, El mágico prodigioso by Calderón, and Pankreas by Patxo Telleria, among others. Since 2016, he has directed the Aula de Verso in Madrid, a space for experimentation for actors, authors, and stage directors. He also teaches courses at Arte4 Estudio de Actores in Madrid, Pabellón 6 Arte Eszenikoak in Bilbao, EAB Sindicato de Actores Vascos in Donostia, and the Olite Classical Theater Festival.