The Public (play)

The Public
Written by Federico García Lorca
Characters Director Enrique
Manservant
Four White Horses
First Man Gonzalo
Second Man
Third Man
Fourth Man
Helen
Vine Leaves
Bells
First Boy
Centurion
Emperor
Juliet
Black Horse
Pierrot Costume
Ballerina Costume
Pyjama Costume
Male Nurse
Naked Man
Five Students
Three Ladies
Second Boy
Two Thieves
Prompter
Idiot Shepherd
Magician
Harlequin
Lady in Black Gonzalo's Mother
Date premiered 15 February 1978[1]
Place premiered University of Puerto Rico[1]
Original language Spanish
Setting The Director's room, A Roman Ruin

The Public (El público), also known as The Audience, is a play by the twentieth-century Spanish dramatist Federico García Lorca.[2] It was written between 1929 and 1930. The two complete manuscripts which once existed have not been found, and may be lost. All that is known is an earlier draft, missing an act.[3] It remained unpublished until 1978 and did not receive its first professional theatrical production until 1986.[4] The world premiere of the play was directed by Victoria Espinosa on 15 February 1978 at the University of Puerto Rico.[1]

Production History

The Public was first presented at the University of Puerto Rico on 15 February 1978, where it was directed by Victoria Espinosa. A translated version by Henry Livings (in consultation with the director/designer, Ultz) was first performed on 3 October 1988 at the Theatre Royal Stratford East. The U.S. premiere opened at the Shepard Theatre Complex in Los Angeles, CA on February 23, 1989 and was presented by Kaliyuga Arts. The production was directed and designed by John Sowle, with costumes by Silvia Jahnsons and incidental music composed by Jules Langert, and featured Robert J. Bennett, Denise Y. Dowse, Roger Gutierrez, Alex Katehakis, Kevin Kirby, Khin-Kyaw Maung, Richard Neil, Steven Patterson, Jane Thurow, Richard Vidan, Courtney Walsh and b. Wyatt in the cast.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Rodríguez Pagán, Juan Antonio (1999), "2, En las comedias imposibles está mi verdadero teatro...", El otro lado de El público de Lorca, London: Isla Negra Editores (San Juan, P.R), pp. 82–83, ISBN 1-881715-47-7
  2. Martínez Nadal, Rafael (1974), Lorca's The Public: A Study of his Unfinished Play (El público) and of Love and Death in the Work of Federico García Lorca, London: Calder & Boyars, pp. 70–82, ISBN 0-7145-2752-1
  3. Martínez Nadal, Rafael (1974), Lorca's The Public: A Study of his Unfinished Play (El público) and of Love and Death in the Work of Federico García Lorca, London: Calder & Boyars, pp. 70–82, ISBN 0-7145-2752-1
  4. García Lorca, Federico; Edwards, Gwynne (1994), "Introduction", Plays: Three, London: Methuen, pp. xxiv, ISBN 0-413-65240-8