"Don Juan is contradictory and confusing. He loves fighting, drinking, pleasure and all things crazy. But when we talk about Don Juan, no one knows what he really wanted. We don't even know if he was really happy," he says. "In the musical, we filled him with complex and infinite emotions, such as love and hate, friendship and paternal love, betrayal and jealousy, loss and glory."
Gian Marco Schiaretti, who plays the title role, says that he used his own understanding of first love to inform his performance. "Don Juan has been living a bestial life. After he finds true love, he becomes like a child, begins to learn about love and its value, and finally realizes his mistakes and gently shows repentance. It can be seen as the process of change," he says.
Other captivating aspects are the passionate music and dance performances, which have Spanish overtones, despite the show's French origins, including impressive, rhythmic and dreamy flamenco dance sequences, bright guitar tones and other Spanish musical elements.
"French musicals are often full of intense and strong expressions of emotion from beginning to end. That's what Latin culture is also supposed to be about, and that's what French culture is about, bringing something very emotional to the audience," says the show's producer, Nicolas Talar.
Carlos Rodriguez, the show's choreographer, shared similar sentiments. "I think the most important part of flamenco is the voice and energy that comes from the heart, as this musical is speaking about love, passion, sadness and essence," he says.
The musical will continue its performance at Shanghai Culture Square until Thursday and will then continue its China tour to six other cities, including Beijing, Hangzhou in Zhejiang province, Guangzhou in Guangdong province, and Nanjing in Jiangsu province, from March 21 to May 5.
Laurent Ban, who plays the role of Don Juan's best friend Don Carlos, has been to China many times to perform in musicals, including Mozart, L'Opera Rock. He says that the team has been preparing for this tour for four years.
"I think this is the right time to bring Don Juan to China, and this musical is to Chinese audiences' taste," Ban says. "It's not only the charm of French romance and Latin culture, but I think the rhythm, dance, emotional power, the passion for love, and the theme of having the courage to die for love will be well-received by Chinese audiences."
