Santiago Rusiñol premiered L’alegria que passa for the first time at the Teatre Romea in Barcelona in 1898, a work that soon became a reference in Catalan literature and still endures today. It was one of the most performed shows of the time and, more than 100 years later, it still continues to conquer the hearts of the public wherever it goes.
Currently, however, it is being performed again at the Teatre Poliorama with some adaptations. The legendary Catalan theater company Dagoll Dagom turned L’alegria que passa into a musical, adapting it to contemporary times through dance, music and acting.
After having worked with other texts such as Mar i cel, by Àngel Guimerà; Aloma, by Mercè Rodoreda, or Antaviana, by Pere Calders, the company decided to culminate its career with a classic that puts on the table the relationship between artists and society. Even though so many years have passed, the debate about the need and value of culture is more essential than ever, especially after a pandemic that damaged the sector without regard.
The plot is simple: the routine of a gray and monotonous town is interrupted by the arrival of a great musical show. The company has been hired by the town’s mayor and the owner of the only factory in the area. Joan, the mayor’s son, who is about to marry Lina, falls in love with the protagonist of the play, Zaira, and wants to run away with her. She, on the other hand, is fed up with her nomadic life and would like to settle down and live in peace. Zaira’s plans, however, are thwarted by Puck, the aggressive manager who demands that she continue. On the other hand, the authoritarian mayor forces Joan to stay in the town. How will this fight of desires end?
The original idea of the show is by Anna Rosa Cisquella, with text and direction by Marc Rosich and music and musical direction by Andreu Gallén. The cast is made up of Mariona Castillo, Cisco Cruz, Guillem Fole, Júlia Genís, Eloi Gómez, Àngels Gonyalons, Pol Guimerà, Pau Oliver and Guillem Ripoll.
The editors of the Digital School Magazine (RED) project, promoted by the youth newspaper Junior Report, enjoy the opportunity to journalistically cover different works at the Poliorama theater thanks to the agreement with Top Grups, the company that is dedicated to managing audiences who are looking to go in groups to cultural events.
These actions outside the classroom are included in Junior Report GO, the parallel initiative to the RED work plan that wants to promote the consumption of culture among students. Participating in this type of actions is a guarantee of experiential learning and fun, since RED students work as authentic accredited professional journalists and publish chronicles and reviews in their school’s school magazine and also in the Junior Report newspaper.