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Almost 13 years ago, on June 11, 2010, Mexico experienced a day of double passion, which resulted in a worthy tie on the one hand and an overwhelming and absolute victory on the other.
That day, in the distant city of Johannesburg, the soccer World Cup was inaugurated, with the match between Mexico and South Africa that ended in a one-goal draw, and which left the fans satisfied.
On the other side of the planet, in our always chaotic Mexico City, on the outskirts of Santa Fe, to be more precise, in the pitifully defunct Zéntrika theater, Toc toc premiered before an audience that gave it a standing ovation.
The success that was predicted that night fell short, very short compared to the history of absolute triumph that this production has had, and that is well worth remembering, as an enormous achievement of the theater made in Mexico:
Written by Laurent Baffie, who also directed and starred in it, Toc toc was born in Paris, where it was ranked as the most successful comedy of the season, so much so that it remained on the billboard for years and toured throughout France several times.
From there, the brilliant comedy jumped to multiple countries, including Mexico, where it premiered that June 11 with a cast headed by Héctor Suárez and Roberto Blandón, who under the wise direction of Lía Jelín created an unforgettable show that remained in a first season for almost four years with 1,200 performances; and that it returned and remained against the wind and pandemic for two more years, and another 700 functions.
With the same brilliant direction and production, the play arrived in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where it established itself as the comedy with the longest running season in the history of theater in that South American nation, and which only the pandemic could interrupt; but recently it also reopened its functions.
In December 2019, with the same montage of Lía, it premiered in Tel Aviv where it started with absolute success and where it remains a very successful season.
And, as if that were not enough, the English version is already being prepared, which will be released shortly in London, England, with the production of MejorTeatro.
I am recounting this because Toc toc is back on the capital’s billboard and judging by the enthusiastic reaction on opening night, a very successful and long-lasting season is anticipated once again.
On this occasion, Rafa Maza is the repository director, who has done a stupendous job to maintain the spirit, the details, the very essence of the show conceived and developed thirteen years ago by Lía Jelín.
I had to enjoy the performances of Pedro Prieto, Alicia Paola, Polo Morín, Omar Medina, Cecilia Arias, Dari Romo and Sandra Quiroz, who will alternate with many other actors. Bravo to each one, great!
That June 11, 2010, Mexico scored a great triumph with the production of Toc toc that today travels the world “scoring many goals”, which makes all theatergoers proud.
