Cazorla witnessed the XIX Noche de la Tragantia’ as one of its most spectacular editions. 600 participants, many of whom wore the required white shirts and others who joined the delegation, covered the entire route, setting a new record in terms of participation in this event. The six participating companies raised the bar with their shows that were full of magic, mystery, light and, dare I say, artistic excellence. The tour lasted almost nine hours and featured theater, music, and circus in an intimate atmosphere that was street-like.
It began in the early afternoon at Teatro de la Merced. The terror of Christian Magic, a local artist, was awaiting them. He did not disappoint, as usual. It featured more than 12 characters and a scene dominated by surprises. The intricate corridors connected various dungeons, where sinister characters lived. The Tragantia, a large and menacing snake-woman, was the dominant character. For four hours, the public waited in small groups. The crowd was already summoned to the Parque del Cristo at 10 p.m. From there, the Yera Teatro parade would begin, another step in the evolution this company, Granada-based Ramon Galera. This show is a direct result of street dance and circus arts, where light and color dominate on previous occasions. Although there are plenty of fireworks and stilts, the show’s most striking feature is the impressive display of contortions and acrobatics by a group very skilled artists.
Quality shows
Already on the slide, Rodrigo Poison, an actor wanted to give a monologue to the public in which he recited the Tragantia’s history. He performed as a minstrel, dressed up as a Christian soldier and displayed perfect diction to try and get the audience to his side. It’s a challenging task to perform in front of so many people in an area that is open and noisy. The torrent of human beings then moved to Balcon de Zabaleta. It was opened up by the powerful music of Frans Dekkers and Amy Scott-Samuel, who have extraordinary voices and strings that sweeten the journey to the monster’s home.
Arymux, a Basque company, was already waiting in the Ruins Santa Maria. This will be a memory that will always remain in the historical site’s past. He created a fusion of music and sign language that struck a chord with the audience. They performed, among other songs, ‘Volver’ by Estrella Moente and ‘Esos locos banjos’ by Serrat. Their performance was stunning and they also translated the lyrics into sign language. They seemed to be able to dance flamenco as quickly as they could urban or contemporary dance. This was in addition to introducing beautiful texts which evoked the highest level of humanism.
The show, prepared by Clara Sanchis, was performed to end the evening at the Tragantia, -the Yedra Castle-. The Teruel actress surprised everyone with her completely different take on the myth at the gates of Teruel’s fortress. Tragantia was dressed in a long, green dress. She seemed modern, concerned about social issues, and unconcerned about her monstrous appearance. She is a feminist, and she was deeply curious about the absurdity and cruelty of her captivity. Finally, she was able to voice her true feelings. She wanted to be a singer, actress, or dancer. She admitted that she doesn’t like children, which legend demands. Simply amazing.
