Bernarda Alba.qxd - State Theatre

The Production 7Repertorio Español’s production design for La casa de Bernarda Albais very simple. The stage is practically bare andABSTRACT - tothe colors dark. When staging this piece, directorlook at somethingRené Buch wanted a design that would not lockwithout referencethe story into a specific time and place norto a specificovershadow the performers and the words. Heenvironmentsays, “We simplify and abstract the play in orderto emphasize symbols and to focus the attention exclusively on what issaid or done by the actor.”While you’re watching the performance, keep an eye out for theseelements of the production design:The SetsThe backdrop, which resembles a set of ladders, is created with metalbars hung from chains in different directions across the back of the stage.Actors enter and exit through these “ladders” and as they do, the metalbars hit together to create an array of sounds. There are just a few setpieces, such as small black boxes that the actors use at the beginning ofAct III to suggest sitting around a dinner table.During the show, pay attention to how the actors and the script createa sense of the surroundings without using lots of set pieces.What do you think is the significance of the sounds created by themetal bars hitting together?The Costumes and PropsCostumes and props are often used to help establish time period andlocation, and to indicate the age and social position of the characters. Inthis production, however, the design team created costumes that arevery plain and not specific to a particular time and place. The sisterswear black leotards with long black skirts. Props are minimal, too, andinclude rags for the maids and sheets for the daughters to stitch and fold.What does the costume design say about the social position of thecharacters?The LightingLighting helps convey mood, atmosphere, and time, and helps theaudience focus on a particular image. The timing, color, and placement ofthe lighting are carefully coordinated with the actors and scenes.During the show, look for interesting patterns created by the lightingdesign. Did the lighting help draw your attention to any particularcharacters or locations?Pay particular attention to the way the lighting design helps make adistinction between the indoor and outdoor scenes.Maria JosefaWhat Would You Do?Lorca never had the chance to see Lacasa de Bernarda Alba performed, but heleft detailed directions in the script for howthe sets should look. Here’s hisdescription of the setting for Act I:A very white room in Bernarda’s house.Arched doorways with jute curtainstrimmed with silk tassels and ruffles.Wicker chairs. Pictures of nymphs orlegendary kings in improbablelandscapes. It is summer.Why would the director and designerschoose a design for their production that iscompletely different from what the authorindicated? Do you think artists shouldstick to what the author wrote, or is it okayfor them to change things to express theirown ideas about the play?What choices would you make if youwere staging a production of La casa deBernarda Alba? What would your sets,costumes, and lighting look like? Thinkabout setting the play during Lorca’s timeversus setting it today; how does thetime period dictate your choices? Createa director’s notebook with sketches ofyour sets and costumes and notes onsound and lighting for your production.