Casa de Bernada Alba
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Bear Blogs
Casa de Bernada Alba
Pictures taken by Karina Navarro
Graciela Batista November 4, 2019
“En ocho años que dure el luto no ha de entrar en esta casa el viento de
theater elements such as the lights and space to furthermore exemplify
la calle” (There are eight years of mourning ahead of us. Not even the
the main theme of repression. When asked about the rehearsals taking in
wind will get into this house) - Bernarda, The House of Bernarda Alba.
place for the production, she described to me the rigor with which they
The play originally named La casa de Bernarda Alba, written by the
work with still a month of preparation left. Practicing at least one day a
Spanish dramatist Federico Garcia Lorca, is coming to TASIS Dorado
week for approximately two hours, they present lines they have
with the leadership of Spanish teacher, Jossie Cepero, and we are more
previously memorized to examine the way each of the actress’s voice
than excited for its premiere on December 4th. The dramatic piece
will be incorporated within the variating scenes. “During rehearsals,'' she
explores themes such as conformity, gender roles and passion within the
says, “the dynamic is different every time, it depends on the scene we are
setting of Spain during the first half of the 20th century. In summary, the
practicing. Sometimes Bernarda is the only one who speaks and we must
play revolves around the household of controlling matriarch, Bernarda
all stay until she has perfected it, other times we all rehearse about the
Alba afterwards the death of her husband. She, her aging mother, five
same amount and even if we have been acting impeccably the entire
daughters, and housekeeper all enter a period of mourning that lasts eight
time, the moment one of us makes a mistake, we must start from the
years where the females are repressed within all aspects.
beginning”. Although the rehearsals she spoke to me about seemed
During a recent interview with Camila Luzio (‘21), the actress playing
arduous and extensive, Camila finishes her descriptions by stating that
the role of Amelia (one of the daughters), she was able to speak to me on
“of course this is the purpose of a rehearsal, we are a team, and by
the insights of how the cast and production team plan to elaborate the
excelling for perfection, its is easier for everyone to be exceptional.”
world renowned piece. Camila describes how the group plans to stay loyal to the original narrative in order to present the story and its themes in the most candid way possible. Nonetheless, they plan on exploring
