Selu García Cossío, a key figure in the Carnival of Cádiz, presents his latest show, titled Universo Cadi, this Saturday at the Cartuja Center in Seville. This production promises to be a reinterpretation of his most celebrated creations, adapted for contemporary times.
The show is based on a plot where Donald Trump seeks to conquer the universe and tasks a scientist with selecting characters to repopulate other planets. These characters are well-known figures from García Cossío's chirigotas, such as 'Los borrachos' (The Drunks), now transformed into tiktokers, and 'Los lacios' (The Bald Ones), who reappear as rappers. Additionally, a new chirigota titled Los Diez Mangamientos (The Ten Swindles) is included, addressing current political events and receiving great acclaim.
García Cossío, despite having retired from the Official Competition of Carnival Groups (COAC), maintains his connection to the Carnival. "I have retired from the competition, but not from Carnival," he states. The chirigota Los Diez Mangamientos, which has been performed in Madrid to great reception, exemplifies his continued creativity.
The author's relationship with Seville is long-standing, having collaborated with Los Morancos since the mid-nineties. García Cossío highlights the growth of Carnival enthusiasm in the city and the response from the Sevillian audience, which motivated the choice of the Cartuja Center as the venue for the show.
Regarding the increasing presence of Sevillian groups in the Falla competition, García Cossío believes that quality should be the sole criterion for evaluation, regardless of origin. "What matters is quality," he emphasizes, advocating for the removal of group origin references in the competition.
The author reiterates his decision not to return to the Competition, explaining that the pressure of the premiere prevented him from enjoying it. "Now we have more than a dozen performances with this show, and we are living a wonderful stage. We go on stage without pressure and enjoy it immensely," he confesses. The production of Universo Cadi has been "enormous work," but the audience responds to "the characters, the lyrics, and the humor."
Sevillian audiences can expect "more than two hours of spectacle, with new repertoires, renewed characters, and a lot of audience interaction." García Cossío promises a blend of "nostalgia and current events," playing on the memory of beloved characters while giving them a fresh twist. "There is a final surprise that no one expects," he reveals.
García Cossío expresses pride in having contributed to the Carnival of Cádiz being recognized as a "great humor show" nationally, similar to the success of Los Morancos. "I wanted Carnival to also be perceived as a great humor show," he concludes.
