Directed by Álvaro Díaz and Pedro Peirano
Tulio Triviño and company put on their crazy version of Cervantes’ play, paying tribute to its originality, humor and timeless charm.
Juan Carlos Bodoque plays Miguel de Cervantes, Tulio Triviño plays Don Quixote, Juanin Juan Harry plays Sancho, Patana plays Pantonia (the nobleman’s daughter) and Policarpo plays the innkeeper. The cast of the acclaimed children’s program 31 Minutos turns Cervantes’ play into a theatrical parody for both children and adults, retaining both the story’s essentials and some of its most innovative aspects. For example, the author is a character in the play and the book exists in the novel itself.
The puppet version of this literary classic is loyal to the original text, maintaining entire dialogues from the novel as a way of highlighting how relevant it still is. It also highlights topics like fantasy - the much-needed craziness or eccentricity that helps us get through the day and inspires us to go after our dreams, in spite of the difficulties we encounter. Friendship and love are also mentioned - things that are worth defending tooth and nail - as well as humor as a defense against perfectionism.
Cast and crew
Directors: Álvaro Díaz and Pedro Peirano | Executive producer: Alejandra Neumann | Musicians: Pablo Ilabaca and Camilo Salinas | Lyrics: Álvaro Díaz | Performers: Alejandra Dueñas, Patricio Díaz, Daniel Castro | Puppeteers: Felipe Godoy, Guillermo Silva, Paco Pasquette | Assistant director: Francisco Schultz | Technical manager: Luis Reinoso | Puppet art director: Sebastián Ríos | Setting: Marcelo Gacitúa | Production and administration: Poli de Valle | Graphic designer: Andrés Sanhueza | Collages: Mauricio Garrido| Coproduced by: the Teatro a Mil Foundation.
The program
31 Minutos
The program
Puppets no less
31 Minutos is a children’s show starring puppets that was created by the Aplaplac production company. It started as a parody of a news show and was a milestone in Chile’s production of children’s programs, a huge success for all of the four seasons it aired. Its albums were also bestsellers and a live version took part in Lollapalooza Chile in 2012 and the Viña Festival in 2013. The program tackles children’s topics with humor and without prejudice. It’s irreverent, works for all ages and formats and its characters are far from being all-too-perfect role models, showing both their virtues and defects to gain children’s trust. It has won four Altazor awards and two Prix Jeunesse, as well as being nominated for the international Emmys.
Why you should watch 31 Minutos: El Quijote
—This is 31 Minutos parodying a parody. Just like they did with their version of Romeo y Julieta, the brains behind this children’s series - Álvaro Díaz and Pedro Peirano - stick faithfully to the text. Their aim isn’t to simplify it, but rather to revive the corrosive sense of humor in this classic that was the first modern novel. They also use resources from the seventeenth century play itself – for example, the play on narrative and self-referencing.
—The set was designed by outstanding collage artist Mauricio Garrido, whose style has been described as ‘neo-baroque’ by experts. “Garrido transfers his inner imagination onto his collages, capturing an explosion of ideas referencing what is mystical-religious, nature, the body, the arts, history and the symbolic traditions of several different cultures”, says Constanza Güell from Antenna. His work has been exhibited in different countries, such as at the Diego Rivera Anahuacalli Museum in Mexico, as well as forming part of private collections, such as that of singer and collector Elton John.
—It’s a given that Pablo Ilabaca (Jaco Sánchez, ex Chancho en Piedra) and Camilo Salinas (Inti Illimani) will compose the story’s soundtrack. Ilabaca’s work for the TV program set the standard in this century’s first decade, with his compositions that are apt - and memorable - for all ages leading to a revival of the children’s genre.
Find out more
Don Quixote of La Mancha: This is Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra’s most well-known play and one of the most important pieces in both Spanish and universal literature. Its first part was published under the name The Ingenious Nobleman Don Quixote of La Mancha at the beginning of 1605 and the second part, called The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha, came out in 1615. It’s the first literary piece to be called a modern novel, as well as being the first-ever polyphonic novel. As such, it’s had an overwhelming influence on all the European literature that’s come after it.
Álvaro Díaz and Pedro Peirano: This creative duo has turned out multiple projects, including the TV programs Plan Z, El factor humano and 31 Minutos; the feature film 31 Minutos, la película (2008) and the documentary Los dibujos de Bruno Kulczewski (2004). Álvaro Díaz has also directed the series Miratú, Las vacaciones de Tulio and the live shows Gira Mundial, Radio Guaripolo and Calurosa Navidad. Pedro Peirano codirected the movie Gatos viejos (2010) and wrote the script for the feature films La vida me mata and La nana by Sebastián Silva and No by Pablo Larraín. He’s also published around ten books as a cartoonist. Both have won Altazor awards for Best Director, Script, Children’s Program and TV Program.
More information
—Take a look at 31 Minutos’ version of the classic Shakespeare play Romeo y Julieta, premiered at Santiago a Mil.
—Rewatch Sueño Imposible from the musical El señor de La Mancha, part of the second season of this children’s program in 2004.
31 MINUTOS: EL QUIJOTE on social media
On Instagram, @31minutos
On Twitter, @31minutos_tv
On Facebook, 31minutosoficial
Website, https://31minutosoficial.cl/
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