Ecuadorian play unmasks the hell of machista violence

In Quito, Ecuador, the play 'Conjuro para cazar venados' (Conjuring to Hunt Deer) confronts the harsh realities of domestic violence and machismo. The production, written by Mexican playwright Ginna Álvarez and directed by Ecuadorian Isadora Fonseca, uses a fictional family's hunting trip as a stark metaphor.

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from a place that is not preachy, but from the reality of the generational transfer of violence through rites of passage, such as 15th birthdays, alcohol, weapons.

During a 15th birthday celebration, a planned deer hunt goes awry. Instead of animals, the family's focus shifts, turning the birthday girl into the "prey." This psychological thriller delves into the closed-door abuses within homes, exploring how violence is passed down through generations via rites of passage, alcohol, and the assertion of a "new masculinity" that dominates older generations and subjugates women.

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To eradicate violence against women, these issues must be permanently revisited and discussed from different angles.

Fonseca stated that the play addresses violence "not in a preachy way, but from the reality of generational transfer of violence." The narrative weaves in elements of magical realism, with the grandfather suffering from Alzheimer's attempting to protect his granddaughter by giving her a rifle, a symbol of taking control of her own life. The mother, trapped in her own cycle of submission, passes on her "feminine role of oppression" to her daughter.

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He sees women, regardless of blood relation, familial, or friendship ties, basically as prey. He is a predator. A comparison is made between sport hunting and female conquest.

Actor Ignacio de Vries, who plays a character embodying the darker side of masculinity, described his role as a "predator" who views women as prey, drawing parallels between sport hunting and the "conquest" of women. He noted the play's premiere occurs at a critical time when hate speech and misogyny are gaining traction online. "Unfortunately, we see that the first to lose rights are women: either they lose their rights or they lose their lives," he warned, referencing Ecuador's femicide statistics since the crime was criminalized in 2014.

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Unfortunately, we see that the first to lose rights are women: either they lose their rights or they lose their lives.