La Desconquista

Burlesque and musical comedy by Ron Lalá about three shipwrecked men of the sixteenth century who seek glory, gold and souls in the New World, performed by five actor-musicians at the Teatro Infanta Isabel in Madrid.

Towards the end of the sixteenth century, three shipwrecked men drift aimlessly in a vessel, rowing in search of the lands of the New World. Captain Hernán Galán pursues glory, the sailor Fulano pursues gold, and the friar fray Pío pursues the conversion of souls. Amid mishaps at sea and in unknown lands, the three discover that nobody is what they appear to be and that nothing turns out as they expected.

It is a comedy of burlesque tone, with comic and musical sections, drawing on the chronicles of the Discovery and on imperial ambitions. The text, with dramaturgy and lyrics by Álvaro Tato, combines verse theatre of a classical cut with original music performed live. On stage, five actor-musicians (Juan Cañas, Miguel Magdalena, Diego Morales, Luis Retana and Daniel Rovalher) bring the characters to life with a brisk pace and a biting, delirious humour.

The production is directed by Yayo Cáceres, who composes it together with Juan Cañas, Miguel Magdalena and Daniel Rovalher. The musical direction is by Miguel Magdalena, the set design is by Ron Lalá and Tatiana de Sarabia, the costumes are by Tatiana de Sarabia and the lighting is by Miguel Ángel Camacho. The work reflects on the obsessions, fears and anxieties of the Empire and on its amazement at an unknown continent.