• Overview
• Staging information
• Translations
• Sample translations
• Production history

Scene

The play takes place in one long act, although scene breaks are suggested by the dimming of lights.

Staging

The play is set in various locations in a small rural village. Scenes take place in the village square, the house of Manuel’s parents, an abandoned church and a cemetery. Most of the action, however, takes place in the bar and dance hall. At the start of the play, this area is dusty and disorderly, cluttered with tables, chairs and knick-knacks, such as the table football game which Piporro and Palomo play. The characters clean the hall, and it gradually becomes a more accommodating space for a play.

A small theatre has been constructed in the dance hall for the purposes of the Passion play. It has a hole, in which the characters can insert the vertical beam of the cross during rehearsals and performances.

During rehearsals, the characters dress in a variety of costumes that appear to have little to do with the Easter story, including evening wear, tracksuits and smoking jackets. For the actual performance, the characters playing the Jews are dressed in rags, reminiscent of Jews during the 1930s in Europe.

Heavy snow falls and settles in the village. The young people have snowball fights and build a snowman.

During the rehearsal of the Passion play in which Palomo performs as Christ, we are told that the villagers act with great naturalism, rather than appearing as amateurs or bad actors.

At a number of points, some of the characters behave in an unnerving and unexpected manner in their interactions with Manuel. Without him noticing, they cackle and laugh at him, almost as if they are mocking his intention to leave the village. This even happens when Manuel talks to Maria at the cemetery. As the snow starts to fall and Manuel admits he will have to leave the next day, Maria hides her uncontrollable laughter from him. (less)

The play is set in various locations in a small rural village. Scenes take place in the village square, the house of Manuel’s parents, an abandoned church and a cemetery. Most of the ac... (Read more...)

Music

The funeral procession that accompanies the coffin carrying Manuel’s father includes musicians playing music that is described as half funeral mass, half fox-trot. The villagers’ Passion play features marching music. (less)

The funeral procession that accompanies the coffin carrying Manuel’s father includes musicians playing music that is described as half funeral mass, half fox-trot. The villagers’ Passio... (Read more...)

Cast number

Minimum	Maximum
9 males	17 males
3 females	7 females
12 (total)	24 (total)

Cast information

Some of the characters go by colloquial names that reflect their physical appearance or behaviour. English approximations are provided in brackets.

Characters

• MANUEL
• PIPORRO
• PALOMO
• MARIA
• MOTHER
• PEPE, Bar owner
• GURRIATO (IDIOT)
• CHAPARRO (FATTY)
• PIERNACACHONES (RUNABOUT)
• ENCONAO (TETCHY)
• CHIVO (KIDDO)
• PRIEST
• COTO, Limping altar boy
• MAYOR, Manuel’s uncle
• MANUELA
• OLD SESO (OLD BRAINS)
• OLD WOMAN 1
• OLD WOMAN 2
• AGUSTINA
• AGUSTINA’S MOTHER
• CHILDREN
• MUSICIANS

Entry written by Gwynneth Dowling. Last updated on 22 May 2011.

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