House of Bernarda Alba (The)

              Purdue-Indiana Theatre presents
THE HOUSE OF BERNARDA ALBA
A Drama about Women in the Villages of Spain
By Federico García Lorca
Purdue-Indiana Theatre Presents
THE HOUSE OF BERNARDA ALBA
by Federico García Lorca
Directed by Larry L. Life
Setting Designed by Raymond S. Wilkes
Lighting Designed by Jan Swank
Costumes Designed by Lyn Stangland
Associate Director Neal Bearman
CHARACTERS
Bernarda, the Matriarch … Carol Dailey
Maria Josefa, Bernarda's Mother … Judy Geary
Angustias, Bernarda's eldest Daughter … Jill Armstrong
Magdalena, Bernarda's Daughter … Marcia Kress
Amelia, Bernarda's Daughter … Connie Bartkiewicz
Martirio, Bernarda's Daughter … Pat Fisher
Adela, Bernarda's youngest Daughter … Denise Moore
The Servant … Cindy Smyth
La Poncia, a Maid … Pat Victor
Prudencia, a Neighbor … Laura Thompson
A Beggar Woman … Kip Stritmatter
Her Daughter … Carolyn Fisher
The action of the play occurs over a period of three months and takes place in the common room of Bernarda Alba's home in a small village in Spain.
There will be one fifteen minute intermission.
PRODUCTION STAFF
Assistant Director … Neal Bearman
Stage Manager … Becky Bowser
Sound … Gerry Snyder
Lights … Chuck Davis, Steve Snapp
Properties … Margie Howard, Neil Hartman, Phil Darling
Costume Construction … Carol Dailey, Edie Vel, Connie Bartkiewicz, Denise Moore, Robert Pequinot, Diane Voltz, Becky Bowser, Cindy Smyth, Margo Betz, Kathy Hartman, Neal Hartman, Yoshi Davis, Marcia Kress, Lee Wells
Set Construction … David Landy, Dan Kelley, Stagecraft Class, O. Franklin Kenworthy
Public Relations … Jan Swank
Photography … Jeff Gibson
Box Office … David Landy
Green Room Display … Charles Allen
Poster Design & Printing … Neal Bearman & Lyn Stangland
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Howard's Camera and Gift Shop
Leath Furniture
Win Schuler's Restaurant
Crosier House of Studies
St. Mary's Catholic Church
South Side High School Music Department
Mr. & Mrs. Rod Howard
Mrs. C. W. Howard
Peg Geyer
Carol Dailey
Pat Victor
Spanish Culture Consultant Virginia Craig, Ph.D.
COMING ATTRACTIONS
TWO ONE-ACTS: SOMETHING UNSPOKEN by Tennessee Williams RIDERS TO THE SEA by John M. Synge Dec. 7-8
TWO MORE One-Acts: THE PROPOSAL by Anton Chekov THE AMERICAN DREAM by Edward Albee Dec. 14-15
AMERICAN COLLEGE THEATRE REGIONAL FESTIVAL (Six plays from Region IV - Schools from Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Western Penn. A different play each afternoon and evening.) Jan. 4-5-6
ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST A new adaptation of Ken Kesey's best selling novel, still playing on Broadway. Feb. 15-16-17 22-23-24 Mar. 1-2-3
FAMILY THEATRE FESTIVAL A week of at least five different plays presented by various Children's Theatre companies from Indiana including children's art exhibit, outstanding films for children, and creative dramatics workshops for children. Mar. 11-17
JACQUES BREL IS ALIVE AND WELL AND LIVING IN PARIS by Eric Blau and Mort Shuman Apr. 5-6-7 12-13-14 19-20-21
Notes on Spanish Traditions in BERNARDA ALBA
Lorca is making a very strong statement about the restrictions placed on women in Spain. The play deals with many things strongly connected with the culture of the people and many of these customs still exist today in Spain. One of the concepts that is an example of this is the custom of Courtship. The future bridegroom is never allowed to enter the house of his future bride. He may stand at her window and speak to her through the iron grille work, but he may not enter the house. Also important is the custom of Mourning. When a death occurs in a family, a period of three years of formal mourning is assumed. In the play the Matriarch imposes a period of eight years which is an older custom. Today in Spain it is of three years duration. During this time the women may not leave the house for any reason other than to go to church. Also at this time, the family sends out all clothing, including undergarments and night clothing and has them dyed black. Other traditions are those of Marriage and Honor. None of the girls in a family may marry until the eldest is married, once she is betrothed, then the others are free to marry. Also important is the tradition of a young woman who has dishonored her family, she has one of two choices, she either takes her own life or enters a convent.
DIRECTOR'S NOTE
BERNARDA ALBA is a striking example of Tragedy in the classical sense. We are dealing with noble characters, at least Bernarda prefers to think of her family as the nobility. And indeed, in this small Spanish village in which the play is set, the family of Alba is the nobility. There is also a certain classicism to the language and the almost poetic way in which the characters express themselves. But the play is more than just a lovely example of a Classic Tragedy with its imperative climax and catharsis. Lorca was making a very strong statement about the stilted and stifling traditions of the Spanish people, particularly those dealing with women. He is attacking the concept of "That's the way it is and we must accept it." It is my personal conviction that when looked at in this light the character of Bernarda becomes less of a villian and the incarnation of evil. Bernarda is older and has become heavily indoctrinated into her tradition and her daughters are at various stages of indoctrination. Adela, being the youngest, is the rebel. The true evil in the play then, is the unrelenting tradition, the structure that will not bend and takes no account of the fact that all human beings have needs and desires that must be recognized and dealt with, not shut away in a house where eventually they will begin to express themselves in ways more terrifying and evil than the human mind can fathom. This is to me the meaning and importance of the play. Traditions, rules, restrictions, etc. are not in and of themselves bad, many are very necessary and valuable to our lives, but nothing is of any value or importance if the human being is not considered first. The play has been a very exciting experience for all of us working on it. I wish to commend and thank everyone connected with the production who have given so much of their time to prepare what is, I believe, a very beautiful and moving theatrical experience. L. Life