SPPO 462: Don Quijote
Christian Hulkow
SPPO 462: Don Quijote es una obra de teatro que trata de un estudiante universitario, Alex, que toma una clase sobre Don Quijote. Durante el semestre, Alex se va obsesionando gradualmente con la novela al punto de que una noche que se frustra tanto con las atrocidades del mundo que decide convertirse en un Don Quijote moderno. Esta obra sigue las aventuras de Alex con su “escudero” Dani y lo que les sucede mientras tratan de mejorar el mundo. Aunque toca temas relacionados con el Quijote también se enfoca en otros que tienen más relevancia en la sociedad de hoy en día. Los protagonistas de la obra no tienen un sexo o género predeterminado dejando que cualquier persona pueda representar sus papeles. Además, Dani, el “Sancho Panza” de la obra, se representa con un títere para simbolizar la manera en que el dinero puede esclavizar a los seres humanos y como a veces la gente que podría parecer más loca tiene la mayor cordura y libertad. De una manera parecida, Alex demuestra esa dicotomía entre la cordura y la locura. La obra trae la magia de Don Quijote al siglo XXI mientras que Alex trae su propia Edad de Oro a la sociedad moderna.
SPPO 462: Don Quijote is a play about a college student, Alex, who takes a class entirely dedicated to Don Quijote. During the semester, Alex slowly falls in love with this marvelous novel until one night, frustrated with the atrocities occurring around the world, they decide to become a modern-day Don Quijote. This work follows their adventures with their “squire” Dani and everything that happens to them while they try to make the world a better place. Even though it touches upon similar themes as the original Don Quijote like the truth, friendship, and money, it also focuses on themes that have particular relevance to today’s society such as gender, race, and politics. The protagonists of this play do not have a predetermined sex or gender allowing them to be played by anybody, regardless of who they are or what they look like. Furthermore, Dani, the “Sancho Panza” character, is represented with a puppet to symbolize the way in which money can enslave people and how sometimes those who appear the craziest have the most reason and freedom. In a similar fashion, Alex demonstrates the dichotomy between sanity and insanity. They find themselves in situations where they appear to be the only one that realizes they are actually in a play and that their squire is actually a puppet instead of a human; it is because of this that the other characters believe Alex to be truly insane at times. The play aims to bring the magic of the legendary Don Quijote to the 21st Century while Alex tries to bring their own Golden Age to modern society.
Scene 1-First Day of Class
Academic setting. there’s a chalkboard to the right of the stage and some desks to the left. Professor Luján enters from the right to stand in front of the board, rest of the class enters from the left to sit in a desk. The board has [Don Quijote] written on it. Calendar reads [INSERT].
Professor Luján
Welcome everybody to [SPPO 462: Don Quijote]! As you may have already guessed by the title of the course, we will spend this upcoming semester reading and analyzing Miguel de Cervantes’ Don Quijote, a Spanish masterpiece. Since there are only six of you people in the class, I can only imagine the rest of the Spanish majors were scared off by the sheer size of the novel (drops a copy of the book on the floor, loud thud).
Alex (to student next to them)
What have we gotten ourselves into?
Professor Luján
You’ve gotten yourselves into reading a fantastic book, one that keeps on giving with every reading. This class is never the same. Every student interprets Don Quijote in their own way. Every scene means something different to them. Then they come and bring their diverse perspectives in this very room and it’s pure magic. If you allow yourselves the time and the effort to embark on this wondrous journey, I promise you that your life will never be the same again. Thank you for allowing me to join all of you in this adventure and I do hope you all enjoy it!
Classmate 1 (to Alex)
You think this book will really make such an impact on us?
Alex
Looks like we’re about to find out.