Zugarramurdi, or the Great Goat's meadow

(2004) – app. duration: 25’
Original name:
‘Zugarramurdi, o el prado del Gran Cabrón’

Premiered in:
La Catedral (Buenos Aires, AR), on september 22nd, 2004
Performed in:
La Catedral and Sala A. Ginastera–DNMD (Buenos Aires, AR - 2004)

“This toads in costumes are demons in the shape of toads, that accompany and assist the sorcerers to induce and help them to commit ever greater evil deeds; they are dressed with wool or velvet in different colours, tight to their bodies and with just one opening, that closes under the belly, with a pointed hood in the manner of a hooded cape, and it never gets broken, and it remains always in a same being; and the toads hold their heads up, and the face of the demon, of the same size and appearance like the lord of the Sabbath, and in their necks they carry jingle bells and other trinkets. (…)
And the toads have under their care waking up their masters, and letting them know when is it time to go to the Sabbath; and the Devil gives them as guardian angels, for them to be served and accompanied, encouraged and asked to commit all sorts of evil deeds, and to get from them the water with which they oint themselves to go to the Sabbath, and to destroy the fields and the fruits, and to kill and to do wrong to the people and the cattle, and to do the dusts and poisons with which they do the mentioned harms.

This water they get it in this way: after they have fed the toad, they whip it with sticks, and it starts swelling, and the Devil, who is present, goes on saying: “give it more”, and he tells them to stop when they have given it as much as is necessary, and then they squeeze it with the foot against the floor, or with the hands, and then the toad adjusts itself, raising on its hands or feet, and vomits through its mouth or through its back parts a very stinky black-green water…”

Coreography and direction: Pablo Fontdevila
Music: Federico Klurfan

Performed by Pablo Fontdevila, Federico Klurfan and Mariana Hernández

Lighting design: Pablo Fontdevila
Graphic design: Sr. Mara