2023 marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Mário Cesariny and Natália Correia, two unavoidable personalities of Portuguese culture: Cesariny, considered the greatest exponent of Portuguese surrealism, became famous as a visual artist and poet, but also as a critic, essayist and translator; and Natália Correia, one of the most outstanding personalities of Portuguese literature of the 20th century, distinguished herself as a poet, playwright, novelist, essayist, translator, journalist, screenwriter and editor.
Natália Correia's dramaturgical production is known and very fruitful, especially between the 1950s and 1980s, with several of her plays staged by the Comuna, by Teatro Experimental de Cascais and by Teatro Estúdio Fonte Nova. As for Cesariny, his contributions as a playwright can be summed up in the play “A car for Jerusalem”, which was staged several times, namely by Teatro Nacional D. Maria II, in 2002. In addition to his translations, which also saw stage projectors, his plastic contributions to the theater were more punctual, with emphasis, however, on his collaboration with Teatro do Gerifalto, in the children’s and youth shows “O Rei Veado” and “Dois Reis e Um Sono”, both from 1958.
It was in this last show “Dois Reis e um Sono” that the happy meeting of these two greatest figures of Portuguese culture took place on stage. The text is by Natália Correia and Manuel de Lima and the costumes and sets by Cesariny. In the exhibition now on display at the Museu Nacional do Teatro e da Dança, it is possible to see thirteen of the sixteen original costume designs, for characters such as the “Rei com Sono”, “Facilita-Tudo” or the “Bride”.
Additionally, programs and scene photographs of these two shows at Teatro Gerifalto can be seen, as well as other materials from plays and shows by both honorees. Also noteworthy is a serigraph by Cesariny, which was offered to actress Eunice Muñoz, and which is now part of the Museum's collection.
The exhibition can be visited until September 10th.
SOURCE: National Theater and Dance Museum