Physical Theater Festival Presents MARRANO Review — Life During the Inquisition

The ensemble of actors dances energetically around the stage. Uriel and his new wife, Ines, hold each other and laugh, soaking up the sheer happiness of this moment. We are immersed in their joy.

Slowly, we transition into the present time of the play, in which Uriel is being interrogated and tortured by the Spanish Inquisition for the murder of the chief Inquisitor. He is now alone. He raises his hands up high as if hanging by his wrists. He screams and contorts his body.

Uriel’s interrogation is interspersed with moments from his life, from childhood into adulthood. We watch him move from Sevilla to Zaragoza, forcefully converting from Judaism into Christianity, and running from the Inquisition at every stop. This was the devastating reality for Jewish people in 1400s Spain.

We are mesmerized as Uriel transforms into a child before our eyes. He gains a child-like energy, and his voice goes up an octave. The actors previously playing members of the Inquisition lose their sternness and become the parents. Uriel grows up and changes his name to Diego, after converting to Christianity. After being forced to flee his home, he makes his way to Zaragoza where he meets Ines, the daughter of a man known for helping Jewish people escaping the Inquisition. They begin working together at a shoe shop and fall quickly in love. After a long day’s work, they comedically bid each other farewell time and time again, not wanting to leave each other’s presence. Their romantic attraction is magnetic, yet we know the tragic place where Uriel is headed.
You too might feel almost overwhelmed by the emotional juxtaposition of their joy to Uriel’s torture. It is heartbreaking.

Physical Theater Festival Delivers a Fully Sensory Piece

The set is simple. LED lights create the rectangular stage which the characters enter and exit. Only a few chairs are used along with several fabrics. Red fabric becomes fire, as it engulfs the characters in moments of violence. On the side of the stage, there are cajons and objects (such as paint brushes, blocks, bags of coins) used to create the soundscape of the show. The actors mime the action on stage and the ensemble brings it to life using these tools. At Uriel’s father’s shoe shop, for example, we can hear the sweeping and the hammering with clarity.

Partly in Spanish and partly in Hebrew, this play is perfect for those interested in historical plays and physical theatre.

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CAST:

La Percha Teatro.

CREATIVE TEAM:

La Percha Teatro.

WHEN:

July 13 - July 15, 2023

Thursdays - 9pm
Fridays - 7pm
Saturdays - 7pm

WHERE:

Theater Wit
1229 W Belmont Ave
Chicago, IL 60657 

TICKETS:

$ 15 +

For more information and tickets visit the Physical Theater Festival website.

Photos Courtesy of Physical Theater Festival.