Perfectes desconeguts: the hit play in Catalonia with a Guinness record

There are stories which, because of their apparent simplicity, manage to connect with very different audiences. Perfectos desconocidos is one of them. What begins as a dinner among friends develops into an uncomfortable game that exposes the cracks in relationships which seemed solid, but which were there in the background.

Now the theatrical version of the text from Paolo Genovese's film Perfetti sconosciuti (2016), which also came to Spanish cinema as Perfectos Desconocidos, directed by Álex de la Iglesia and starring Belén Rueda and Eduard Fernández, among others, is directed by David Selvas and can be seen at Teatre Poliorama until 17 May.

The plot of Perfectes desconeguts

The play, around 85 minutes long and in Catalan, keeps the core of the original story intact: four couples who have known one another for years decide to share aloud the messages and calls they receive on their mobile phones during a dinner. What is initially presented as an innocent game ends up revealing secrets, lies and contradictions.

This stage adaptation is based on a text that combines comedy and tension, and raises uncomfortable questions about intimacy, trust and the use of technology in everyday life.

Perfectos desconocidos: from cinema to theatre

Few productions can boast such a recognised origin. The play became an international phenomenon. Its success was such that it came to accumulate more than 20 adaptations in different countries, eventually entering the Guinness Book of Records as the film with the most remakes in history.

This journey shows that the story works because it strikes a universal chord. As the European Audiovisual Observatory points out, narratives focused on personal relationships and everyday conflicts have a great capacity for cultural adaptation, since they connect with common experiences in different societies.

Photo by teatrepoliorama.com

A comedy with an uncomfortable undercurrent

Although it is presented as a comedy, Perfectos desconocidos constantly plays with the audience. The light tone at the beginning gradually turns into an increasingly tense situation, where laughter gives way to discomfort.

The device of the game — placing mobile phones on the table and sharing every notification — works as a very effective dramatic trigger. As the dinner progresses, social masks begin to fall, and the characters show facets that had until then remained hidden. This mechanism recalls classic vaudeville, where appearances break down in sequence and situations become progressively more complicated.

The role of the mobile phone in the plot

One of the key elements of the play is the use of the mobile phone as a symbol. Beyond being a simple object, it acts as an extension of the characters' private lives. Everything that is not said aloud is stored on the screen.

In this regard, the play connects with a very current concern: the exposure of intimacy in the digital age. According to studies by the European Commission, the everyday use of mobile devices has transformed the way we relate to one another, blurring the boundary between public and private.

Characters at the limit in Perfectes desconeguts

The real driving force of the play is its characters. Each represents a different way of handling truth, lies and secrecy. As the game progresses, the relationships between them become strained, and what seemed to be a solid friendship begins to crack.

The strength of the production lies in how these dynamics unfold in real time, without artifice, supported by dialogue and performance. The audience witnesses a process of constant revelation, in which every message read aloud adds a new layer of conflict.

The play is performed by Marta Bayarri, Biel Duran, Eduard Farelo, Júlia Molins, Albert Prat, Vanessa Segura and Cristian Valencia.