Mónica Aragón, the daughter of Alfonso Aragón, Fofito, is part of the eighth generation of this family of clowns, who became very popular in the seventies as clowns on TV. Now, Mónica and Fofito return to Barcelona with Viva el circo in a tent with 800 seats, installed in the Fòrum park.
Have you not performed in Barcelona for a long time?
Monica: Well, about 15 years now.
And since when are they together?
M.: Well, about 30, but alternating, because I have also done theater and cinema.
Fofito: He started doing background vocals with my brother Rody and me, and when we needed someone to get into comedy, he stayed.
Does the public come to see Fofito?
F.: I am a bit of a claim, but this show is the most complete of all that I have participated in, apart from the elimination of the animals. We have magic, juggling, height numbers...
M.: But don't tell everything, they have to come see it!
And does the public remember the songs of the clowns on TV?
M.: They remember perfectly, and it is surprising how they are passed from generation to generation. We love to see that we are working for three generations of the same family. Children know all the songs and watch their parents and grandparents sing them.
F.: Before it was the child who brought the father, and now it is the father who brings the child.
Are the songs always the same?
F.: That's right, we can't get out of the lane. And when we finish they always ask us for the others that we haven't sung, Susanita, El auto nuevo, La gallina turuleca... It happened to us once, my brother and me in Argentina, when we had rehearsed with the orchestra only a few songs and the The public began to ask for "another, another". Then he told them: "We don't have any more rehearsed, but if you want us to repeat some of the ones we've sung..." And they began to shout: "Don Pepito, Don Pepito!"
What role does each of you play in the couple?
M.: I do what my uncle Gaby used to do, as a counterpoint to Fofito.
So you are the clown and Fofito the august.
M.: Indeed.
Also in life?
M.: He only listens to me on the track. Outside, since he is the father...
F.: We only discussed work in the caravan. And it is not to argue, it is always to improve something of what we do, so that the public catches the joke better.
Is it difficult to work as a family?
M.: It has both. When we act, we have so much complicity that simply by looking at each other we already know what the other is going to do. And that gives you a lot of security to constantly improvise. We give a lot of room for improvisation and that is very magical, because we give an immediate response to the public depending on how they are.
F.: Each show is a different show.
Is the ninth generation guaranteed?
M.: I think so. My nephews follow, but they are still young. Also Gaby's grandchildren.
F.: My grandson has told Mónica that let's see when he retires, that he wants to work with his grandfather.
Does a clown never retire?
F.: Fofito does not retire. And what a clown wants is for his children and his grandchildren to follow what he is doing.
