Christmas Eve 1755 in the Montemuro
An old blind shepherd falls and bangs his head while minding his sheep.
When he regains consciousness he has also regained his sight and he sees what he believes to be an angel watching over him. The figure disappears and when the shepherd tells the villagers and the priest about his miracle the mountains are scoured for the angel.
He eventually reappears in a bear cage belonging to a travelling troupe of entertainers who exhibit him throughout the villages.
He does not speak but draws and what he draws seems to come true. Soon his fame and his apparent miracles are spreading through the mountains. Father Bernardo, the priest ants to find him to claim him for the church. His sister the sceptical Graça wants to find him to prove that he is not an angel and Geraldo the showman wants to keep him for the people. And to make money out of him.

The Angel of The Montemuro is a comedy of ideas.
It is set in just after the earthquake that destroyed Lisbon and whose aftershocks were felt literally and philosophically throughout the world. It is set a the beginning of the age of reason when accepted religious and social philosophies were being questioned.
The idea that “All is for the best in the best of all possible worlds “ could no longer stand up. But does rationalism provide the answers? The play looks at the place of religion, art, rationalism and pragmatism in our society – the priest, the shaman and the showman.
The story is retold by unreliable narrators – “ a vagabond band of actors”
None of the characters are what they seem the idealistic priest is subject to jealousy and pragmatism, the determinedly modern woman is carnal and irrational and the professional liar wants to believe in the truth of the angel.
But who or what is the angel?



Artistic file

Text: Peter Cann
Translation: Graeme Pulleyn
Staging: Steve Johnstone
Musical Direction: Simon Fraser
Sound moulding: Ana Limpinho e Maria João Castelo
Figurinos: Ana Limpinho e Maria João Castelo Costureiras: Capuchinhas CRL
Stage setting: Carlos Cal e Rodrigo Viterbo
Desenho de Luzes: Paulo Duarte
Interpreters: Abel Duarte, Eduardo Correia, Paulo Duarte, Neusa Fangueiro e Ricardo Rocha
Executive Producers: Paula Teixeira Assistente de Produção: Susana Duarte Direcção de Cena: Abel Duarte
Press attachés: Paula Teixeira e Susana Duarte
Graphic design: Helen Ainsworth

Em cena entre 22 de Novembro e 19 de Dezembro de 2008
Entre 22 de Janeiro e 27 de Março de 2009
Classificação etária: Maiores 12 anos
Duração do espectáculo: 75 min. sem intervalo