Maylan Colomé Pérez and José Ramón Moreno Zaldívar are two young actors from Los Zahoríes Puppet Theater who, besides their love for the art of the stage, share a marriage and a son named Matías.

Las Tunas, Cuba.- Recently, they were awarded the Best Reprise recognition, for A Regalo Limpio (Clean Gift), in the 21st Red Nose Clown Season, promoted in a virtual mode by Teatro Papalote, from Matanzas.

With their interpretation of the clowns Maluli and Yuyo, they urge compliance with hygienic-sanitary measures to prevent the COVID-19. Ingeniously, with the audiovisual and selfless help of Rodolfo Wílliam (Fito), they tell a story in which they reveal their knowledge about the art of the Clown, previously learned together with the Teatro Tuyo group, led by Ernesto Parra. Precisely, with this cast, they had participated in the “Red Noses,” in 2017.

Works such as Clowns’ Party, Two clowns in Danger, and Play by Singing consolidated their knowledge in that school, to which they arrived before becoming part of the puppet show. The teaching was now glimpsed in the words of the jury, composed of recognized members of the group from “the Athens of Cuba.”

The award, according to the opinion, was granted, among other reasons, for “developing a scenic action that, besides making us laugh, strikes our thoughts, all very well guided towards a final edifying content” and for “making an interesting alternation in the interpretation of the twists of history, present through a look very close to the comedy and the popular magic of the clown.”

Maylan and José Ramón met at the academy and, since then, they have learned to overcome fears and complement each other on stage, to the delight of the public. They confess that they did not expect this award that fills “Los Zahoríes,” who is about to turn 50, with pride.

"It was also a way of reaffirming ourselves, of knowing that there is still a living clown inside of you," the current director of the province's first stage group explains. The idea of the reprise had been “cooked” by her husband for some time, to bring an instructive message to children in the midst of the complex circumstances of the pandemic.

Although they agree that the puppet theater has also been a gift and an acting challenge, they do not abandon that red accessory that has allowed them to grow behind the scenes.