A fusion between theater and literature: The Reading Show presents a new adaptation

How does a play sound in the voice of its own writer? It was the initial idea of ​​Romina Mella and David Hidalgo, creators of The Reading Show, a literary show that complements the literary narration with music, acting, lights and other elements that provide a multisensory experience that, on this occasion, adapts the book. by Rafael Dumett “Comrade George and the Dragon”.

Plays on The Reading Show are rarely repeated, as each performance is unique to each book they bring to the stage. “They are usually from a single date because they are very strong experiences for the public and also for the author himself, despite the fact that they are the ones who know his book.”, explains David Hidalgo, co-founder of this project. However, for this new production an exception to the rule was made, with performances on both Tuesday the 1st and Wednesday the 2nd at 8 pm.

These last two performances, which will take place at the Teatro Ricardo Blume, uniquely combine the reading -by Dumett himself- with elements of a live orchestra, dialogues performed by actors and other resources that place it as one of the the most ambitious proposals of The Reading Show. “There will be audiovisual elements and many film resources that generate a different experience when entering a story, unlike a play or an individual reading of the book.adds Hidalgo.

a different experience

“Comrade Jorge and the Dragon” is the first book in a future saga that follows the life of Eudocio Ravines, a controversial figure in Peruvian history who was deported from the country five times by four different presidents. This first text will be the literary base of a scenic proposal that will portray the character’s childhood in his place of origin. “Initially, I thought it would only take 10 pages to talk about this part of Ravines’ life, but when I researched the history of Cajamarca, I realized that what was told about his childhood was fiction.”, comments the writer of the book.

To develop this new adaptation, which took two months to prepare, the creators of The Reading Show have the support of playwright Celeste Viale, who, in conversation with the author of the book and the founders of the project, choose the best way to tell this story that finds several points of connection with events such as coups d’état, foundations of political parties and real events that marked Peru.

“A maxim of this project is that what the author wanted to tell is respected, on that we work when we make the staging” emphasizes Hidalgo. This project will continue to adapt new books by different authors with stories that, while perfectly on paper, can also find a place under the spotlight.