Out of the Wings

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Fuente Ovejuna (1612-1614), Lope de Vega Carpio

Scene

It is a three-act comedia.

Staging

The most challenging scene to stage in this play is the torture scene, as townsfolk on stage react to the cries and screams of their neighbours and friends being tortured just offstage. Most of the action takes place in the public squares of the town of Fuente Ovejuna, although a separate royal palace location is needed for Ferdinand and Isabella. There is a wedding scene with peasant decorations, flowers and music, and Frondoso and Laurencia encounter the Commander while walking outside the town in a nearby wood. The Commander has a crossbow in that scene, which Frondoso appropriates to defend Laurencia. In his staging of the play, Victor Dixon has shown that it is possible to double the actors playing the King and Queen with those playing Frondoso and Laurencia.

Cast number
Minimum Maximum
12 males 20 males
4 females 8 females
16 (total) 28 (total)
Characters
  • FERNÁN GÓMEZ, Grand Commander of the Order of Calatrava
  • ORTUÑO, Fernán Gómez’s servant
  • FLORES, Fernán Gómez’s servant
  • RODRIGO TÉLLEZ GIRÓN,  Master of Calatrava
  • PASCUALA, A peasant woman
  • LAURENCIA, A peasant woman, in love with Frondoso
  • MENGO, A peasant
  • BARRILDO, A peasant
  • FRONDOSO, A peasant, in love with Laurencia
  • JUAN ROJO, Alderman, Laurencia’s uncle
  • ESTEBAN, Mayor of the town, Laurencia’s father
  • ALONSO, Co-mayor of the town
  • FERNANDO (Ferdinand), the King of Aragon
  • ISABEL, the Queen of Castille
  • MANRIQUE, Master of the Order of Santiago
  • TWO REPRESENTATIVES (Aldermen) of Ciudad Real
  • ONE REPRESENTATIVE (Alderman) of Fuente Ovejuna
  • CIMBRANOS, a soldier
  • JACINTA, a peasant girl
  • A YOUNG MAN
  • PEASANTS
  • JUDGE
  • MUSICIANS
  • LEONELO, A student

Entry written by Kathleen Jeffs. Last updated on 10 March 2011.

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