Why did the musical about Balboa stir emotions?

Vasco Núñez de Balboa it has coins, statues, theaters and avenues in its name, which try to measure its once-esteemed role in Panamanian history, even though it has fallen out of favor over the years.

Now the surname of the so-called discoverer of the South Sea is back in the spotlight, after the promotion “Balboa: The Musical”.

The debate centers on the exaltation given to a character considered by many to be a “genocide”.

But the work, which will be available from August, invites us to discover the two faces of this Spanish conqueror.

Producer Diego De Obaldía, who leads the project, explained that since they started working on the musical, they were very clear that the last Balboa He wanted to raise passions, but his goal is precisely to bring uncomfortable and abandoned questions to the table to be studied and discussed.

“There are many books to read about subject and consultation with historians. Every coin has two sides, here a few know one and many neither,” he said.

De Obaldía asked to see the work first and then draw conclusions from the whole product, not just the marketing piece.

According to the producer, the project has been in the making for more than four years, and the work lasts about two hours.

“They can’t assume things about a show they haven’t seen,” he said.

detractors
Although the musical has been promoted for months, there has been an emphasis on it “as the story of love and betrayal between the conqueror and Anayansi became a legend” which warmed the mood.

Social network users believe that it is about romanticizing the situation and glorifying the man who massacred the natives.

However, the project also had more voices in favor, from those who called for a halt to a culture of cancellation and committed to knowing all parts of the story.