«Bizarra, en argentinina saga I-V» is a theatre-soap opera written by the Argentinian playwright Rafael Spregelburd, inspired by the format of the Brazilian soap opera. The play is a deadly serious and absurdly funny melodrama about the bankruptcy that occurred in Argentina in 2001 and merges different worlds together, which are the supernatural, the political and the socio-economical worlds. The plot revolves around two young twin sisters, Candela and Velita, who grow up in two completely different socio-economic worlds where they fall in love, have accidents at work and try to solve the problem of poverty that is widespread in the country. With a grotesque treatment of dramatic action and hallucinatory fictional universe, this saga proposes a playful and cruel questioning of modernity: What are we sacrificing in the name of progress, and successful life? Is the human body becoming the new commodity for the exchange of the economic powers?
The production celebrates the dreams and nightmares of capitalism with five performances of the first five episodes played in a marathon, auction of soap opera props, exchange of soap opera stickers and laiv DJ session.
CREDITS
Producer: Nanna Elisabeth Berntsen and Alessandra Felli
Playwright: Rafael Spregelburd
Translator: Bente Teigen Gundersen
Colombine Teaterförlag: Karin Hökby
Director and adaptation: Alessandra Felli
Costume: Denise Massman and Alessandra Felli
Costume Designer’s Assistant: Kimberley Jones
Scenography: Alessandra Felli, Denise Massman, Nicola Lolli and Nils Christian Hamsund Boberg
Stage construction: Nils Christian Hamsund Boberg
Props: Alessandra Felli and Denise Massman
Composer: Egil W
Re-mix composer: Pedro Sanmartín
Lighting designer: Eirik Brenne Torsethaugen
Wigs: Maria Abelsen
Marketer in January trial period in January: Ørjan Svingen
Stage manager: Jo Berntsen
Stage manager for audition workshops: Ingvild Tiller Naustan
Marketing Manager/Tour manager: Céline Meillaud
Photos and films of marketing campaign: Nicola Lolli
Recording of the event and performances: Ørjan Trotland and crew
Volunteer: Selma Helen Buchanan, Meysam Hosseini, Mikael Laumann, Jo Berntsen
Actors: Viola Othilie Tømte, Kristine Hagensen, Bjørg Sofie Eline Sætre, Theresa Carlsen, Øystein Schiefloe Kanestrøm, Haakon Mustafa Akdokur Smestad, Kristin Lundemo Overøye, Herman Lepsøe Ohrvik, Fredrik Paalssønn Aakerhus, Joakim Nesvik
Other performing artists
Berit Rusten – auctioneer
DJ Pedro Sanmartín
Gibberish Improv Theatre
Co-producer: Rosendal Teater
Thanks to: Mari Moe Krysinska and Meysam Hosseini
Support of: Trondheim Kommune; Kulturfond og Kjøp av tid, Kulturrådet, Fond for lyd og bilde, Fri scenekunst – prosjekt (teater) og Komposisjon og produksjon av musikk, Trøndelag Fylkeskommune Kulturstilskudd, prosjektsøtte, SpareBank1 SMN, Erbo Gavefond, Den Argentinske Ambassaden i Oslo, Rosendal Teater, Bizarra AS.
VIDEO
PICTURES
PRESS
Eline Bjerkan «Årets høydepunkter 2024: Eline Bjerkan» i https://scenekunst.no/artikler/arets-hoydepunkter-2024-eline-bjerkan
«The other performance that stretches formal conventions is Bizarra by Bizarra AS and director Alessandra Felli. The production is based on the playwright Rafael Spregelburd’s drama, which was originally performed as ten separate chapters. This was to give the story the feel of a soap opera. This approach is taken further when Felli sets up his version in five chapters, with vague promises of an upcoming second season. The five chapters, which add up to a full five-hour evening, are packed with love intrigue, crime, humour, supernatural events and class struggle. It can be challenging at times to keep up, but I myself am almost hypnotised by the flow, energy and breaks in the small and large plots. All the performers seem to be having fun in a way that rubs off on the audience. As with Spreafico Eckly, this is a self-conscious performance that somehow pushes its format to the limit».
Amund Grimstad «A thrilling soap opera» in https://amund.info/
«Bizarra: En argentinsk saga I-V is a marathon of five performances, but went surprisingly fast. This is due to excellent acting, a fast pace, good dramaturgy and great entertainment value. The comedy, the mixing of genres, delightful breaks with creative use of metaphor – all this made the performance an experience and great entertainment. And in the midst of all the fun, there is always a thorough critique of capitalism, which means that the production is far more than just for pleasure. The production is the first half of the original soap opera, and the fifth act ends with a real cliffhanger. It is uncertain whether there will be a second production with the last five episodes, but I think it should be a popular demand to see the rest».
Eline Bjerkan «Bombastic, fantastic» in https://scenekunst.no/artikler/bombastisk-fantastisk
«Situational comedy, precise physical acting and impeccable timing help to keep the energy and spirits up. On more than one occasion, the actors break the fourth wall by addressing the audience directly, talking about themselves and the show on a meta level. This approach, which is otherwise well used in the world of theatre, does not become predictable here, but instead appears thoughtful and funny. […] It remains to be seen whether Felli will make theatre out of the last five chapters of Spregelburd in the future. That would be gratifying, but it doesn’t have much to do with the experience of the first part. Bizarra is just wild and charming enough for me to accept an incomplete plot. Some might argue that the seriousness behind the story, about a country in economic crisis, is not emphasised enough in such a silly show. However, the fact that seriousness is juxtaposed with comedy and horror elements anchors the show in the soap opera tradition. In a way, Bizarra takes a big bite out of reality and mirrors it with all its chaos and contradictions – naturally in a suitably theatrical, bombastic way».
WHAT THE AUDIENCE THINKS OF THE PRODUCTION
«Thanks for a great show! Beautiful acting! A delight to experience!» Lise Hovik Professor of Drama and Theatre at DMMH, director of Teater Fot
«Thank you for a spectacular theatre experience today. I’m so happy that the project landed so well, and that you are a solid production team» Monica Stendahl Rokne, Advisor to the Director of Culture, Trondheim Municipality.
«Great performance with lots of fun details and great images and scenes» Eline Hallem
«Bizarra was a long performance that included strong role interpretations and clear work with the physical» student from IKM, NTNU
«This is a bold experiment, both because of the sheer size of the production, the collaboration between all the actors involved, and the challenges encountered. It’s a challenge both for the actors, who will be performing for many hours at a stretch, and for those of us trying to sell tickets. After all, how many people go to see a seven-hour soap opera in theatre form?» Signe Karmhus Marketing Manager at Rosendal Theatre
Bizarra 