It is difficult to measure the positive effects culture has on boys, girls, and young people. This is especially true if you consider their value system. It gives the impression that many fathers, mothers and teachers in the Cazorla region, as well as the Natural Park, have concluded that culture is important for their children, sons and daughters. Three full houses of Teatro de la Merced were seen in each of the three Teatrino cycles’ appointments. It is also important to note that 60 of the 300 seats in the Teatro de la Merced’s last function were occupied by students from Coto Rios, a village in Santiago Pontones, in the middle of the Natural Park. We were exhausted after a long day of travel, but we felt compelled to see the play “The goose that lays golden eggs” by Zum-Zum Teatre.
It was well worth the effort. The montage was beautiful, despite its simplicity. But the important message it conveyed was also impressive. It was a wonderful opportunity to have a conversation between children and adults based on the obvious message of the story. This version of Zum-Zum Teatre enriches it with the traditional fable, which Aesop attributed to, to give it clear social nuances and the greatest possible relevance.
It tells the story two elderly farmers. Let’s pretend it’s a whole community that is so kind that they welcome every bird to their farm, regardless of their origin country. Let’s also imagine that they are emigrants. One day, a special hen arrives at the farm and lays golden eggs. The couple’s generous nature is completely changed when wealth soon arrives at their home. Greed destroys her good nature and makes it impossible to get the golden eggs.
Begonya Ferrer, Albert Garcia, and their team create this story in a masterful manner. They use simple lighting and other techniques that are typical for children’s theater, such as puppets, masks, music, and puppets. This last resource is decisive in the Montage. Not only because it has an undoubted quality, but also because its lyrics and choruses. They are without doubt the heart of the moral they hope to instill in the minds of the small audience. It is a family show that deserves every award it has received. The 2017 FETEN Award for Best Direction is one of them.
