La Enfermedad Incurable

La enfermedad incurable (The Incurable Disease) is a 1996 play by Sebastian Mancilla Olivares, a Chilean playwright and actor. The play was written in 1993 and premiered three years later in Catamarca, Argentina. The play reopened in 2001 at the Teatro Urbano Girardi, once again under the direction of Olivares but featuring a new cast and crew. The play has garnered several honors, accolades, and awards.



Plot
The story centers on Juan, who has chronic epilepsy. His condition worsens steadily with age, but modern medicine lengthens his life expectancy. Over the years, doctors tell Juan's mother, Eleonora, that her son will most likely die by the age of eighteen. Knowing that he could die at any moment, Juan decides to live every day of his life to the fullest. During his travels, he meets Celina, a girl who sells vintage records at a store a few blocks away from his house. The pair strike up a friendship which then blossoms into love.

Original Cast

 * Ismael Morandini – Juan Marchetti
 * Lu Rodríguez – Celina Echague
 * Juliana Reyes – Eleonora Aruzzi de Marchetti
 * Az Martínez – Juan Marchetti (child)
 * Pablo Marcolli – Uncle Agusto
 * Macarena Figueroa – Aunt Marcia
 * Micael Juárez – Doctor Terrille
 * Javier Pérez
 * Agustín Acosta
 * Santiago Rivas

2001 Cast

 * Agustín Figueroa – Juan Marchetti
 * Micaela Linares – Celina Echague
 * Cintia Díaz – Eleonora Aruzzi de Marchetti
 * Santiago Acosta – Juan Marchetti (child)

Upcoming Remake

 * A remake of the story was considered in 2008, but with the death of Mancilla's mother at the time, the project was put on hold. It was once again revitalized in 2010, when Ismael Morandini would develop a remake in honor of Mancilla, who died from depression in 2009. Ultimately, Morandini was killed in a car accident on his way to Tucumán, Catamarca, Argentina and the project was once again in limbo.
 * In 2013, Az Martínez announced the project again, stating that the remake, to be titled "Angeles de Amor" (Angels of Love), is planned for release in late 2014.
 * Lu Rodríguez is also involved in development.

Trivia

 * Az Martínez funded the 2001 version of the work. He was six years old when he originally played Juan Marchetti.
 * Lu Rodríguez could not avoid shedding tears during the play's ending.
 * Ismael Morandini studied seizures and chronic migraines for six months to prepare for his role.
 * Juliana Reyes could not hold back tears when she spoke ill of Juan, and said the role was draining to her.
 * The work was performed with the original cast in Salta, Tucumán, Mendoza and Ushuaia in Argentina.