The 'Suelta del Perro Maldito' in Valsequillo has reached its 40th edition under the theme "The Power of Chaos", engaging more than 250 participants in a street theater performance that has reclaimed its community and assembly essence.
The event commenced with a birthday party for the "Perro Maldito", followed by a voice-over lamenting "forty years of fear, hunger, and hate," which led to the appearance of the 39 "dogs" from previous editions. For the first time, all actors who have portrayed the character's retinue throughout history gathered on stage.
Throughout the performance, the "Perro Maldito" and its retinue confronted the audience with the "miseries of current society," symbolized as the "Holy Trinity of Evil": pleasure, power, and control. The harsh realities of immigration were depicted through a "human canoe," alongside modern slavery, invisible exploitation, sexual abuse, and the trafficking of babies and organs.
“"Come on, be brave, you bunch of hypocrites, or it turns out you're all good tonight and I'm the only Cursed Dog. 39 dogs and you still haven't learned a damn thing, you thought they were pulling the strings, but no, you are the poison that rots the world… and that is my food"
The night's climax featured the anticipated "Rebotallo," where actors invaded the streets, interacting with the crowd amidst smoke, pyrotechnics, simulated blood, and even dung, before the "Perro Maldito" ascended via crane to deliver its final verdict: the true evil lies in everyday hypocrisy, "you know it, you allow it, and you feed it."
A significant innovation this year was the premiere of a 50-meter-long stage platform that transformed the town center, immersing thousands of attendees in an atmosphere of absolute magnetism. This space was specifically designed to safely accommodate pyrotechnic displays and visual effects, elevating the production's spectacle to its peak.
Live music from students and faculty of the Municipal Artistic Schools and members of the Parranda Medio Jigo P’al Kilo also contributed to the event. Four decades on, the tradition of the 'Suelta del Perro Maldito' remains vibrant and continues to expand its legacy, with over three hundred and fifty people making it possible. Makeup artists, dancers, musicians, stilt walkers, and actors, all residents of the town, worked and met in assemblies to make decisions culminating in this performance. This year, the City Council returned organizational control to the people, with residents deciding the direction of the play through a purely assembly-based model, featuring severe social criticism.
The celebration of this successful 40th edition continued with a spectacular fireworks display that added light and color to an emotionally charged night, extending into the early morning hours in Plaza Tifariti with a large street party featuring Armonía Show and the group Un paseo por las Estrellas. With this resounding success in participation and community organization, Valsequillo reaffirms the 'Suelta del Perro Maldito' as one of Canarias' most vibrant and unique cultural treasures.
