Federico Garcia Lorca was one of the greatest Spanish writers of the twentieth century. He was a staunch supporter of the new Republic and an outspoken critic of Fascism, the Catholic Church and Monarchy and, unsurprisingly, was executed by the Falangists in 1936 at the age of 38. More generally he denounced the many sources of social oppression to which the Spanish people were subjected and he used the theatre to draw attention to social injustice. This short tragic play is one of those with which he toured the towns and villages of Spain in the ‘thirties.

The scene is set in rural Spain at the turn of the century and focuses on one family household. A recently widowed woman imposes a period of eight years obligatory mourning on her family of five daughters. This is done in order to maintain their social status and separation from the rest of the village community. She is obsessed with protecting the virginity of her daughters. However, the consequences of her actions on personal relations are stifling and lead inexorably to tragedy.

Lorca’s play addresses many contemporary issues. He reduces the scale of society to a single family and paints a miniature picture of the ravages which absolute authority, sexual repression and rigid class distinctions can wreak. In this adaptation the play is framed within a soliloquy by Lorca reflecting on the last few weeks leading to his execution. The action tends to be disjointed as a result of the physical constraints of the available space. However, the dialogue is taut and is performed with enthusiasm and commitment. As an insightful critique of modern society it is highly recommended.

Melville Kerr