UPUA Theatre Group will perform an adaptation of José Sanchis Sinisterra’s funny comedy, Los figurantes (“The extras”). The first performance of this play was in 1989, and it addresses the rebellion of extras against the main characters. Within the framework of metatheatre, the extras take the stage creating surreal and crazy situations that are not too far from reality. The play is directed by Elizabeth Sogorb and it will premiere on the 12^th of June at 8:00 p.m. in the Auditorium (Paraninfo), it is going to be the last event programmed by UA cultural agenda for this academic year 2017/2018. Entrance is by invitation-only.

Collection of invitations and information in:

MIC (Cultural information point of the Museum of the University of Alicante- Nº 40 on the map). Telephone: +34965909387

PIC (Cultural information point of the Culture Service. Ground floor of the Auditorium (Paraninfo) – Nº 11 on the map) Telephone: +34965903725

Los figurantes represents an irrelevant society which wants to matter. The people who take part of this society complain about it, they start up, they get themselves ready, and they rise up to achieve their purpose. Nevertheless, when they are about to succeed, they are not able to make a decision. They are not capable of taking the responsibility of being the main characters. Following the metatheatre formula, this comedy is divided in two acts and it is full of direct and dynamic dialogues written in an informal language and, mainly, of choral scenes, in which the actors mention the dressing rooms and the places outside the theatre. But even if it is a funny play, it arises a question to reflect:  Are we really in control of our own lives?

The play was performed for the first time in 1898 in Rialto Theatre from Valencia and it has been adapted and performed by several theatre companies over the years.

 “Who are these anonymous, dark beings that the playwright throws disdainfully into the scene? He does not even bother to give them a name, a number or a voice, although sometimes he does give them a few lines to utter, an ordinal number and barely a body. They make the extras wander aimlessly through the plot, as dark shapes that walk next to those who really shine, the true children of the author’s fantasy: the main characters. [...] However, sometimes the extras rise up. All of a sudden, those vague, grey, faceless shapes who have a tiny role in the story, make the decision to stop the play, check over the cast, question the piece and think about the great mystery: What should we do? It is not an easy job. The first obstacle is their relevance, that “almost-non-existent label” they have to get rid of to finally have a name, be important, be present, be loved and be part of the plot. Their aim is to stop being backstage so, at last, they can stand out and stop being mere extras.”

José Sanchis Sinisterra

https://veu.ua.es/en/news/2018/1/los-figurantes-an-adaptation-of-sanchis...