JAVIER'S STONES
A young man named Ariel accidentally arrives at a theater carrying an old suitcase full of stones and objects. Upon discovering the audience in the room, he reveals his mission: to continue the saga of his friend and mentor Javier, an enigmatic wandering puppeteer who has wandered the world collecting stones with the purpose of “lightening the weight of the mountains”. Each of these stones carries with it a fascinating story, evoking memories of times gone by. As Ariel shares his stories with the audience, new narratives unfold in adventures that intertwine myth and fantasy. The audience is drawn into an enchanting journey full of surprises, where the boundaries between reality and imagination merge.
OTHER INFORMATION
In the play “Javier’s Stones,” the character Ariel narrates the adventures of his master Javier, a puppeteer who traveled to many countries telling his stories and performing puppet theater plays. In our play, Javier also had a mission: to collect stones to lighten the weight of the mountains and tell the audience the story of these stones. After Javier’s death, Ariel is tasked with continuing this mission.
Mixing literature, mythology and fantasy, the stones that Ariel carries transform, in her hands, into instruments to guide the audience on a fantastic journey through different times and places in the world.
The saga narrated by Ariel takes us on an imaginary journey that begins with the Trojan War, passes through King Ulysses' journey through the island of the sirens, finds a mythical land called Hy Brazil, presents the story of the ship Caleuche in southern Chile and ends with a journey through India, where Javier will find the tree of life.
This production is a tribute to the Argentine poet, writer and puppeteer Javier Villafañe (1909 - 1996), an iconic figure in the world of puppet theater. His work takes paths where the magical, the surreal and the popular tale are mixed.
The play was born from a character created by Javier Villafañe, “The Man Who Carried Stones”, which served as a trigger for the original dramaturgy of this project. Here, this character gains prominence and a personal story, transforming himself into Ariel, a sort of pupil who has followed the puppet poet’s footsteps since he was very young.
