THE HOUSE
OF
BERNARDA ALBA
 

by Federico Garcia Lorca
7th – 10th October 2009

Produced and Directed by Ann Roberts
 

This is Lorca’s last and possibly finest play, completed shortly before he was murdered by Nationalist sympathisers at the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War. Set in Andalusia in the 1930s, it is a story of a cold-blooded provincial widow and her five adult daughters whom she forbid to marry or even socialise with the local people who she considers their inferiors. Following the death of their father she forces them to enter an eight-year period of mourning, allowing only the eldest Angustias to be courted by the only eligible bachelor in town, the mysterious Pepe Romano. But the younger sisters fall in love with him as well with tragic consequences for the entire family.

From the very start of this powerful piece, we were transported to the oppressive heat and repressive attitudes of village life in provincial Spain of the 1930’s through Sheila William’s evocative set design, brought to life by Martin Lorenz with authentic sound and lighting from David Williams and Alan Fear. The stark black costumes added to the atmosphere as each of the actors developed their characters, ably led by the matriarch, Joy Haynes in the title role of Bernarda. All of the actors, particularly those playing the daughters, is to be commended for creating the contrasting individual personalities as no doubt the author intended. I particularly enjoyed Celia Reinbolts performance as the aged grandmother. Audience attendance was disappointing, although not altogether unexpected for such a serious piece, but we should not let that stop us taking on such productions in the future. Well done to all involved.