Romantic tragedy 'Mar i Cel' returns to stages as musical for last time

Musicals in the Catalan language have been around for decades, but the headliner of the list has always been 'Mar i Cel', translated as 'Sea and Sky' in English, based on a romantic tragic novel that is now returning to the stages for the last time.

Written in 1888 by Àngel Guimerà, it was adapted into a musical in 1988. It tells the story of a Morisco pirate, Saïd, and a Christian prisoner, Blanca, who fall into a forbidden love. A story that continues to resonate "to the present day," Anna Rosa Cisquella, a member of the board of the production company Dagoll Dagom, said.

Eloi Gómez, who plays Ferran, one of the pirates, echoed a similar message during a press conference ahead of the premiere in the Teatre Victòria.

"In a global context of wars and constant conflict, talking about this forbidden love is very needed, as it brings the empathy of spectators," he said.

Romeo and Juliet style play

Mar i Cel is a Romeo and Juliet style play, based in 1629 on the Mediterranean Sea after the expulsion of the Moriscos took place in 1609, when descendants of Spain's Muslim population were forced to convert to Christianity.

"Mar i Cel has many wonderful ingredients," David Pintó, assistant director, told Catalan News. "It happens on a pirate ship, it's spectacular. People are thrilled with the music," he added.

Promoters have sold over 150,000 tickets for the musical starting on September 14, and it returns to the stages after it was first premiered in 1988. During these 35 years, 1,219,535 spectators have watched one of the 1,306 shows performed in Barcelona, and many more cities across Spain and in Germany back in 2007.

"The play works perfectly because it connects the whole family: children, fathers, mothers, grandparents, who can come to the show and enjoy it," Pintó said. "It is a very moving play."

Saïd and Blanca

The play follows the story of Morisco pirate Saïd, played by Jordi Garreta, and Christian prisoner Blanca, played by Alèxia Pascual, who fall in love on the ship despite coming from opposite worlds.

"I am very grateful to be here today," Pascual said before adding that "it will be an adventure that we will never forget."

During the three-act novel, divided into two acts in the Dagoll Dagom musical, both characters fight for their love, with Blanca threatening to stab herself with a sword if her father kills Saïd.

Following her threats, Blanca kills herself after her father shoots Saïd. Even though, in the novel, Blanca dies protecting her love, and Saïd jumps into the sea with her body to be together in the afterlife. Because they are from opposing worlds, such as the sea and the sky, they will try to reach the horizon, the only place where the sea and the sky meet.

Mar i Cel will officially premieres on September 19, with the first show on September 14, and is planned to be on stage until February. Tickets are already on sale online, and prices start at €30.

50th-anniversary exhibition

Coindicing with the 50th anniversary of the production company Dagoll Dagom, creators of the musical Mar i Cel, a temporary exhibition has been set up in the Teatre Victòria.

The exhibit talks about the trajectory of Dagoll Dagom, including historical elements of the company, featuring around 80 original costumes, graphic material, sketches, and original sets.