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Reviews
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DaaaliBy Shan Khan Els Joglars (The Jesters) is one of the best-known Catalan theatre companies. They started in mime which was a necessity in Franco's Spain. In fact the company's members were imprisoned in the 1980's for the content of their work. This background shows through in their affectionate, surreal biography of a Catalan hero, Salvador Dali. This production, surprisingly in Spanish rather than Catalan, is directed by dramaturg, Albert Boadella and stars Ramon Fontserč in the title role. He gives an excellent performance as a man who "lived mad but died sane". The play consists of Dali's dying moments. It starts as he lies close to death on a gigantic melting piano. A very pertinent image amongst so many. The play proceeds to flashback through his life for the next two hours combining reality and fantasy using all types of dramatic style. We see straight acting, mime, slapstick and dance at various times. There is also a regular projection of images on to a backdrop that tie Dali's life to art, his own and that of others. We see his deep love of the work of the influential Velazquez and Lorca counterpointed with his disrespect for his peers. Pollock, Kandinsky, Mondrian and Tapies are literally a troupe of clowns who pale into insignificance in the presence of the maestro. Worse, Miro is no more than a little girl. We also get a good impression of the strange relationship between Dali and his wife and muse Gala. Many of the images on the stage are reflected in a series of photographs of Dali with the great. This contrasts well the surreal madness on stage with the reality depicted by the camera that never lies. Two images linger long after the play ends. A Punch and Judy treatment of the First World War that mixes comedy with poignancy and a meeting with a puppet Picasso which develops into a battle over who is the real genius. This is an unusual stage treatment of a life but very striking and effective. Even his famous moustache gets a starring role. It is a very artistic vision of an artist. It does not, however completely ignore the commercial as it finishes with an account book of the income that the world derives from Dalinian exploitation. Perhaps this performance was a further example but a worthwhile one.
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