Quo? Teatro premieres “Napulitana,” a contemporary adaptation of Goldoni

Quo? Teatro has once again surprised audiences with a new stage production on the eve of the Feria y Fiestas in Villanueva de los Infantes. Yesterday, the company premiered “Napulitana”, an adaptation written and directed by Vicente Sancho based on “Los afanes del veraneo” by Carlo Goldoni, which also incorporates texts and elements from the work of Anton Chekhov to build a contemporary dance-theatre spectacle.

As is customary in their productions, Quo? Teatro takes classic plays and transforms them into contemporary shows where acting, music, movement, and physical expression converge. This formula is a true highlight within the summer programming of the Department of Culture and Tourism, coordinated by Francisco Javier Peinado through the Universidad Popular.

Naples as a stage for appearances

On this occasion, Quo? Teatro transports the audience to a spa in Naples to present, in a comedic tone, an acidic portrait of social relationships and human contradictions. “Napulitana” addresses such current issues as appearances, pretension, the desire to seem like something one is not, or the tendency to spend beyond one's means, as well as the consequences that can arise from these attitudes.

The play focuses on characters willing to go into debt just to keep up appearances, marry in search of a dowry, or live off others instead of working. However, behind that critical gaze, human beings also appear with their weaknesses, contradictions, and vulnerabilities. The Quo? Teatro production approaches this critique through humor and comedy.

Theatre within the theatre

One of the most unique elements of “Napulitana” is the metatheatre game proposed by Vicente Sancho. “We have created a play that is being rehearsed within the performance itself,” the director explains.

Music, physical expression, and dance are already a hallmark of Quo? productions. The staging incorporates references to the German creator Pina Bausch and pays tribute to “Kontakthof”, while the film “Ojos Negros” by Nikita Mikhalkov constitutes another of the references present in the proposal. The film, which also deals with the world of vacationers, provides elements that have been incorporated into the scenic universe of “Napulitana”.

After months of work, Vicente Sancho is satisfied with the result following the premiere and with a proposal that maintains the unique personality of Quo? Teatro: recovering classic texts, reinterpreting them from a contemporary perspective, and exploring the expressive possibilities that arise from the combination of theater, dance, music, and movement.

Upcoming performances

"Napulitana" will resume its performances on August 31 and September 1. All shows will begin at 22:00 at the Patio del Colegio Sagrado Corazón. Tickets are priced at 7 euros and can be purchased at the box office or in advance at the Celda de Quevedo.