Madrid (EFE) Pacos y Régulas, and not in rural areas, but in the lines of hunger”, as the actor Javier Gutiérrez pointed out at the press conference to present the play in Madrid.
“As Alfredo Landa said, Paco, more than a servile being, is a kind being, as well as holy and innocent,” recalled Gutiérrez (Luanco, Asturias, 1971), who considers that “we have come out worse off from the pandemic, we are a a more selfish and less empathetic society, we don’t put ourselves in the other’s shoes, and Paco and Régula know how to do that”.
A moral complaint against social injustices
Set in a farmhouse in Extremadura in the 1960s, Delibes (1920-2010) writes this novel as a moral complaint against social injustices, the unequal distribution of land, the hierarchy of society (some rule and others obey). and the dehumanization of the less wealthy classes.
“The innocent saints” shows a family of peasants formed by a couple, Paco and Régula, and their four children, Nieves, Quirce, Rogelio and Charito (the girl girl), people who live in a humble house at the service of the lords farmhouse, working, obeying and enduring humiliation without any complaint.
This adaptation moves away from the legendary film that director Mario Camus (1935-2021) filmed in 1984 to reinterpret the characters from today’s perspective: from the anomalous hero that is Azarías, to the silent, large and lucid heart of Régula. , the unpunished wickedness of Senorito Iván or the iron resignation of Paco el Bajo with his “to command, that’s what we are for”.
“What happens to us when we relate to power?” is the question posed by Javier Hernández-Simón, director of this work and author of the version together with Fernando Marías.
“What fascinates me about the theatrical version is that there are no explicit partisanships, there is a need on the part of Paco and Régula for their children to be better, have culture, have an education: with this they will get a critical look, a better life”, said Pepa Pedroche, who plays Régula.
Cast of the new version of “The Holy Innocents”
Together with Javier Gutiérrez and Pepa Pedroche, the actors Fernando Huesca (Don Pedro/Don Manuel), Yune Nogueiras (Nieves), Marta Gómez (Marquesita/Niña chica). Luis Bermejo (Azarías), José Fernández (Quirce/René), Raquel Varela (Doña Pura) and Jacobo Dicenta (Mr. Iván) complete the cast.
“Los santos inocentes” is the latest adaptation to the theater of Delibes’s literary work, which has known others as well known as “Five hours with Mario” (1982), “La hoja roja” (1987), “The wars of our ancestors ” (1990) or “Lady in red on a gray background” (2008).
“Los santos inocentes”, which will be from next Thursday until June 11 at the Fernando Arrabal Hall of Las Naves del Español in Matadero, has been recognized with the Talía Award for best theater show and best supporting actor for Luis Bermejo .