La Novia del Viento
by Abrego Producciones
Feb. 26, 2015
When she was scarcely twenty years old, surrealist Leonora Carrington was committed to that city's psychiatric clinic and submitted to an attempt at psychic castration, an effort to destroy her ability to create. The outcome was entirely different.
La surrealista Leonora Carrington vivió con apenas 20 años la experiencia mas aterradora de su vida en Santander. En esta ciudad española, la antifascista comprometida en la lucha contra el fanatismo nazi, fue ingresada en el Sanatorio Psiquiá- trico del Doctor Morales. La Musa de Max Ernst, por él llamada “La novia del viento” padeció un intento de castración psíquica durante su estancia en el psiquiátrico para anular su capacidad creadora. Lejos de conseguirlo, esta luchadora de todas las causas y convencida feminista, tuvo una larga vida de amor y creación artística en México.
“Cuando alguien dice que eres fuerte, es que piensa pisotearte” contundente conclusión de Leonora que la sitúa no entre el mito y el surrealismo, sino de una forma mas terrenal, entre el miedo a la guerra y la huida constante de su infancia y juventud. “Memorias de abajo”, escrito en 1943 es un manual de un viaje por los infiernos de la locura, la guerra, y el desa[- ]mor, aderezado con el terrible tratamiento para torcer su carácter indómito, aplicado en Santander a base de cardiazol, equivalente químico del electroshock.
“La Novia del viento” obra de teatro que ahora presentamos, parte de “Memorias de abajo” para recrear una increíble historia llena de intriga, amor al arte, a la vida, de una artista que fiel a sus principios, que nunca quiso definirse como surrealista, antifascista, musa ni feminista.
[CTX Live Theatre translation: When she was scarcely twenty years old, surrealist Leonora Carrington went through the most terrifying experience of her life in Santander. The devoted anti-Fascist engaged in the struggle against Nazi fanaticism, was committed to that city's psychiatric clinic operated by Dr. Morales. The muse of Max Ernst, whom he called "the bride of the wind,' was submitted to an attempt at psychic castration during her stay here, an effort to destroy her ability to create. The result was entirely different. This woman warrior for all causes and devout feminist had a lengthy life of love and artistic creation in Mexico.
"When somene says that you're strong, it's because he plans to trample you," is Leonora's devastating conclusion, situating her not between myth and surrealism but in an earthier fashion between fear, war, and constant flight throughout her childhood and youth. Her Memories from the Lower Depths, written in 1943 is a traveler's guide to the hells of madness, war and desire for love, steeped in a horrific treatment intended to break her indominable spirit, carried out in Santander with cariazol, the chemical equivalent of electric shock treatment.
The Bride of the Wind, the dramatic piece we now present, is drawn from Memories from the Lower Depths and depicts an unbelievable story full of intrigue, love for art and life, about an artist who in keeping with her principles refused to define herself as surrealist, anti-Fascist, muse or feminist.]
La Novia del Viento
by Pati Doménech
Abrego Producciones
Teatro Dallas & Abrego Productions Present
La Novia del Viento
Spanish Language Theatre at Its Best!
Thursday, February 26, 2015
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican-American Cultural Center
600 River Street, Austin
Free parking for event
Teatro Dallas & Abrego Productions present: La Novia del Viento, a play that pays tribute to Leonora Carrington.
This dramatic biographical play, based on portions of Leonora Carrington’s life, not only pays tribute and admiration to the “last surrealist” but dives deep into scenes of pain and anguish from moments of the protagonist’s life. Leonora Carrington is brilliantly played by veteran actress María Vidal, who is characterized as one of the most potent theatrical forces of this century. She has been seen and revered on stages all over the world for the past twenty years. Please join us on Thursday, February 26th at 8 pm for a most memorable theatrical evening. Following the performance, there will be a reception and opportunity to meet director Pati Domenech and Ms. Vidal.
