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

Scene

The play is divided into two acts.

Staging

La detonación (The Shot) takes place in August 1837, during the last moments of Mariano José de Larra’s life. It begins in the writer’s darkened study, but as Larra cradles his gun, the past invades the stage. There are three main areas in which the action takes place: Larra’s study; the ‘El Parnasillo’ tertulia in Madrid; and the censors’ office. Sometimes the action moves from one place to another in a dreamlike fashion, as darkness falls on one part of the stage and light comes up on another.

Character masks

Most of the characters in the play wear masks which accentuate or distort some aspect of their character. Some of them briefly remove their masks when they feel compelled to speak truthfully to Larra – who does not wear a mask. Others, like Dolores, initially do not wear a mask, but eventually end up assuming one. (less)

La detonación (The Shot) takes place in August 1837, during the last moments of Mariano José de Larra’s life. It begins in the writer’s darkened study, but as Larra cradles his gun, the... (Read more...)

Music

In the course of the play, Larra assumes the nom de plume 'Figaro'. On occasions, music from Rossini's opera The Barber of Seville is heard.

Cast number

Minimum	Maximum
20 males	38 males
3 females	6 females
23 (total)	44 (total)

Cast information

Many of the roles can be performed by the same actor. For example, in the 1977 production one actor performed the part of successive Prime Ministers who oversee the censorship of the press.

Characters

• MARIANO JOSÉ DE LARRA
• PEDRO, Servant
• DON MARIANO DE LARRA, Larra’s father
• BRIGADIER NOGUERAS
• DON HOMOBONO
• CALOMARDE
• CEA BERMÚDEZ
• MARTÍNEZ DE LA ROSA
• MENDIZÁBAL
• ISTÚRIZ
• CALATRAVA
• ROYALIST VOLUNTEER 1
• ROYALIST VOLUNTEER 2
• MILITIAMAN 1
• MILITIAMAN 2
• ATTACKER 1
• ATTACKER 2
• ATTACKER 3
• ATTACKER 4
• MESONERO ROMANOS
• VENTURA DE LA VEGA
• BRETÓN DE LOS HERREROS
• CLEMENTE DÍAZ
• CARNERERO
• BORREGO
• ARRIAZA
• GRIMALDI
• PADRE FROILÁN
• PEPITA WETORET, Larra’s wife
• DOLORES ARMIJO
• PIPÍ, Waiter
• JOSÉ MARÍA CAMBRONERO, Dolores’s husband
• GENERAL CABRERA
• PADRE GALLEGO
• JOSÉ DE ESPRONCEDA
• MERCEDARIAN
• DOMINICAN
• JESUIT
• JUANÍN, Pedro’s son
• CAPTAIN CRISTINO
• MARÍA GRIÑÓ
• ADELITA’S VOICE
• PEPITA’S MOTHER’S VOICE
• MARÍA MANUELA’S VOICE
• OTHER VOICES

Entry written by Gwynneth Dowling. Last updated on 6 May 2012.

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