by Caroline Brantley<\/p>\n
This past October, I wrote a short, contemporary scene inspired by \u201cLa casa de Bernarda Alba\u201d by Federico Garc\u00eda Lorca, a Spanish playwright and poet assassinated during the Spanish Civil War for being gay. My scene sought to relate these events and the uphill battle of the LGBTQIA+ community to Australia\u2019s current nationwide postal survey for marriage equality. By November 15, 80% of Australian voters submitted their postal surveys, with 62% voting in favor of marriage equality. This past Thursday, the Australian Parliament officially accepted the postal survey\u2019s success and voted overwhelming in favor of legalizing same sex marriage across the country (!!).<\/p>\n
In celebration of how far the LGBTQIA+ community has come and in recognition of the barriers we still have to tackle, I present the scene I wrote (in Spanish and English) a couple months back. Here\u2019s to Lorca and all those who have risked or sacrificed their lives so that others may now live with pride.<\/p>\n
| Un espacio en Australia<\/strong><\/p>\n Todos los papeles de esta obra (Bernarda, Adela, Angustias, Martirio, Pepe) reflejan los papeles originales de \u201cLa casa de Bernarda Alba\u201d por Federico Garc\u00eda Lorca.<\/p>\n Arriba el tel\u00f3n para una casa en un suburbio conservador de Perth, Australia, 2017. En Australia, hay una encuesta postal este mes sobre la legalizaci\u00f3n del matrimonio entre personas del mismo sexo. Esta escena espec\u00edficamente est\u00e1 en un cuarto oscuro que es tranquilo y vac\u00edo con la excepci\u00f3n de ADELA. ADELA<\/strong> se sienta en una silla en el medio del cuarto, escribiendo en la computadora port\u00e1til con una cara de consideraci\u00f3n y estr\u00e9s. La \u00fanica luz es de la computadora, y brilla en la cara de ella.<\/em><\/p>\n (Entra BERNARDA<\/strong>, encendiendo una l\u00e1mpara)<\/em><\/p>\n ADELA:<\/strong> (suspiro)<\/em><\/p>\n BERNARDA: <\/strong>(severamente) <\/em>\u00a1Adela! \u00bfPor qu\u00e9 no est\u00e1s durmiendo? Es muy tarde y no quiero ver que est\u00e1s cansada ma\u00f1ana durante la cena para Angustias y Pepe.<\/p>\n ADELA:<\/strong> Estoy cansada, pero no puedo dormir. Necesito el espacio para pensar.<\/p>\n BERNARDA: \u00a1<\/strong>Eres demasiado dram\u00e1tica! Duerme porque nosotras vamos a tener un problema ma\u00f1ana si tu est\u00e1s de mal humor. Es la cena antes del matrimonio de Pepe y tu hermana; es un d\u00eda feliz y no me gustan \u00e1nimos malos.<\/p>\n ADELA: <\/strong>(con vacilaci\u00f3n) <\/em>Mam\u00e1, tengo algo que necesito decirte.<\/p>\n BERNARDA:<\/strong> No est\u00e1s feliz por Angustias.<\/p>\n ADELA: <\/strong>\u00a1Qu\u00e9!. . . No, mam\u00e1. Yo\u2014buenas noches.<\/p>\n BERNARDA:<\/strong> (esc\u00e9ptica) <\/em>Igualmente.<\/p>\n (Cierra la port\u00e1til. Se apaga la luz.)<\/em><\/p>\n El d\u00eda siguiente en una cena antes del matrimonio entre ANGUSTIAS<\/strong> y PEPE. <\/strong>La atm\u00f3sfera es alegre mientras la familia de Angustias y los invitados hablan sobre chismes y nuevas cosas de la comunidad.<\/em><\/p>\n MUJER:<\/strong> Ay, Bernarda, \u00a1es una fiesta muy grande! Y yo s\u00e9 que Angustias estar\u00e1 bonita ma\u00f1ana cuando ella se casar\u00e1 con Pepe. Pues, \u00a1claro! Todas tus hijas son hermosas. No tendr\u00e1n problemas para encontrar un esposo.<\/p>\n BERNARDA:<\/strong> \u00a1Por supuesto, no! Pero mis hijas piensan que es una idea anticuada, especialmente Martirio y Adela. Ellas no quieren novios ahora\u2014a veces son demasiado liberales y modernas para m\u00ed.<\/p>\n ADELA: <\/strong>(un poco amarga)<\/em> Martirio no es liberal. . .<\/p>\n MARTIRIO: <\/strong>S\u00ed, estoy de acuerdo con ella. Es una idea loca.<\/p>\n MUJER: <\/strong>Bien, Martirio, si no tienes un novio, \u00bfQu\u00e9 te gusta hacer? \u00bfTrabajas?<\/p>\n BERNARDA: <\/strong>S\u00ed, Martirio ha estado trabajando para la campa\u00f1a de \u201cNo\u201d contra la loca encuesta postal. \u00bfPueden creer que las personas quieran implementar la habilidad para la gente homosexual para casarse?<\/p>\n MARTIRIO:<\/strong> No es \u201cun derecho\u201d, es horrible. Quieren terminar la importancia del matrimonio.<\/p>\n ADELA: <\/strong>Voy a tomar una bebida.<\/p>\n (MARTIRIO <\/strong>sigue a ADELA<\/strong>)<\/em><\/p>\n MARTIRIO: <\/strong>(tranquilamente) <\/em>Flaca\u2014fue una noche muy tarde.<\/p>\n ADELA: <\/strong>(con sorpresa)<\/em> \u00bfQu\u00e9?<\/p>\n MARTIRIO:<\/strong> \u00bfEstabas hablando por tel\u00e9fono a las cuatro?<\/p>\n ADELA:<\/strong> No es importante para ti.<\/p>\n MARTIRIO: <\/strong>Dime con quien te hablaste anoche.<\/p>\n ADELA:<\/strong> Vete.<\/p>\n MARTIRIO: <\/strong>(pausa) <\/em>Con una chica. (ADELA<\/strong> mira a MARTIRIO<\/strong>, est\u00e1n enojadas) <\/em>Eres homosexual.<\/p>\n ADELA: <\/strong>Y t\u00fa eres homof\u00f3bica. Mi cuerpo y mi vida me pertenecen, y no hay nada que puedas hacer. \u00a1No es el lugar para crear una escena, pero yo s\u00e9 que t\u00fa quieres atenci\u00f3n!<\/p>\n MARTIRIO: <\/strong>(Mas ruidosa)<\/em> C\u00e1llate. Cuando le diga a Mam\u00e1\u2014<\/p>\n ADELA: \u00bf<\/strong>Por qu\u00e9 necesitas decir a madre? \u00bfPorque no tienes nada interesante en tu vida? Si est\u00e1s tratando a arruinar el d\u00eda con mi sexualidad\u2014<\/p>\n MARTIRIO: <\/strong>Pues, si ninguna de nosotras tenemos un novio en el matrimonio de nuestra hermana, al menos mi amor por hombres es aut\u00e9ntico. Va a ser muy interesante\u2014cuando yo le diga a madre sobre tu secreto y tu \u201cnovia\u201d.<\/p>\n (Llega ANGUSTIAS <\/strong>con BERNARDA<\/strong>)<\/em><\/p>\n ANGUSTIAS: <\/strong>\u00a1Est\u00e1n ruidosas! Dime el chisme.<\/p>\n ADELA:<\/strong> No es chisme.<\/p>\n BERNARDA: <\/strong>No tengo tiempo para sus problemas.<\/p>\n MARTIRIO:<\/strong> Es solo el problema de Adela. Mi hermana loca tiene a correr a Nueva Zelanda para casarse, y todav\u00eda ella no ser\u00eda normal.<\/p>\n ANGUSTIAS: <\/strong>\u00a1Martirio!<\/p>\n ADELA: <\/strong>\u00a1Basta! Mi sexualidad no es verg\u00fcenza. No deber\u00eda una cuesti\u00f3n pol\u00edtica. Ustedes me tratan como una enfermedad, pero pronto puedo casarse en Australia. Y, Martirio todav\u00eda ser\u00eda soltera porque ella siempre pone su nariz en los asuntos de otros. (ANGUSTIAS<\/strong> empieza a llorar, BERNARDA<\/strong> est\u00e1 enojada) <\/em>Y madre, mam\u00e1 . . . he tratado a decirte, iba decirte, pero era demasiado\u2014<\/p>\n Bernarda: <\/strong>Basta.<\/p>\n Corta el escenario a negro.<\/em><\/p>\n La escena final: un cuarto oscuro. Tranquilo y vac\u00edo con la excepci\u00f3n de BERNARDA<\/strong>, quien se siente en una silla al lado de un escritorio. ANGUSTIAS<\/strong> entra.<\/em><\/p>\n ANGUSTIAS: <\/strong>(con hesitaci\u00f3n) <\/em>Son las dos en punto.<\/p>\n BERNARDA: <\/strong>S\u00ed. Deber\u00edas dormir. Necesito pensar.<\/p>\n ANGUSTIAS: <\/strong>Pienso sobre ti, mam\u00e1. Estoy preocupa por ti.<\/p>\n BERNARDA:<\/strong> Estoy bien\u2014es cierto. Y te quiero una monta\u00f1a, y necesitas volver a Pepe.<\/p>\n (ANGUSTIAS<\/strong> sale)<\/em><\/p>\n BERNARDA:<\/strong> (murmurando)<\/em> Es cierto que amo a todas mis hijas. (Completando la encuesta postal sobre apoyo para el matrimonio homosexual de Australia y sellando el sobre) <\/em>S\u00ed, Adela.<\/p>\n Fin.<\/strong><\/td>\n All the roles in this work (Bernarda, Adela, Angustias, Martirio, Pepe) reflect the original roles from \u201cThe House of Bernarda Alba\u201d by Federico Garc\u00eda Lorca.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Curtain up to a house in a conservative suburb of Perth, Australia, 2017. In Australia, there is a postal survey this month about the legalization of same sex marriage. This specific scene is in a dark room that is quiet and empty with the exception of ADELA.<\/strong> ADELA<\/strong> sits in a chair in the middle of the room, writing on her laptop with a face of consideration and stress. The only light is from the computer, and it shines in her face.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n ADELA:<\/strong> (sighs)<\/em><\/p>\n BERNARDA: <\/strong>(severely) <\/em>Adela! Why aren\u2019t you sleeping? It is very late and I don\u2019t want to see you tired tomorrow during Angustias and Pepe\u2019s dinner.<\/p>\n ADELA:<\/strong> I am tired, but I can\u2019t sleep. I need space to think.<\/p>\n BERNARDA: <\/strong>You are too dramatic! Sleep, because we are going to have a problem tomorrow if you are moody. It is the dinner before Pepe and your sister\u2019s wedding; it is a happy day, and I don\u2019t like bad spirits.<\/p>\n ADELA: <\/strong>(hesitantly) <\/em>Mam\u00e1, I have something that I need to tell you.<\/p>\n BERNARDA:<\/strong> You are not happy for Angustias.<\/p>\n ADELA: <\/strong>What! . . . No, mam\u00e1. I\u2014good night.<\/p>\n BERNARDA:<\/strong> (skeptically) <\/em>Same to you.<\/p>\n (ADELA closes the laptop. She turns off the light.)<\/em><\/p>\n <\/em>The next day at the dinner before the marriage of ANGUSTIAS<\/strong> and PEPE. <\/strong>The atmosphere is happy while Angustias\u2019 family and guests talk about gossip and new things for the community.<\/em><\/p>\n MUJER:<\/strong> Ay, Bernarda, what a big party! And I know that Angustias will be pretty tomorrow when she marries Pepe. But, of course! All your daughters are beautiful. They will not have any problems finding a husband.<\/p>\n BERNARDA:<\/strong> Of course not! But, my daughters think that this is an outdated idea, especially Martirio and Adela. They don\u2019t want boyfriends now\u2014sometimes they are too liberal and modern for me.<\/p>\n ADELA: <\/strong>(a bit bitterly)<\/em> Martirio is not liberal. . .<\/p>\n MARTIRIO: <\/strong>Yeah, I agree with her. That is a crazy idea.<\/p>\n MUJER: <\/strong>Well, Martirio, if you don\u2019t have a boyfriend, what do you like to do? Do you work?<\/p>\n BERNARDA: <\/strong>Yes, Martirio has been working for the \u201cNo\u201d campaign against the crazy postal survey. Can you all believe that people want to implement the ability for homosexual people to marry?<\/p>\n MARTIRIO:<\/strong> It is not \u201ca right\u201d; it\u2019s horrible. They want to end the importance of marriage.<\/p>\n ADELA: <\/strong>I\u2019m going to get a drink.<\/p>\n (MARTIRIO <\/strong>follows ADELA<\/strong>)<\/em><\/p>\n MARTIRIO: <\/strong>(Calmly) <\/em>Flaca (skinny girl)\u2014It was a very late night.<\/p>\n ADELA: <\/strong>(surprised)<\/em> What?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n MARTIRIO:<\/strong> Were you talking on the phone at four?<\/p>\n ADELA: <\/strong>It\u2019s not important to you.<\/p>\n MARTIRIO: <\/strong>Tell me whom you were talking to last night.<\/p>\n ADELA:<\/strong> Go away.<\/p>\n MARTIRIO: <\/strong>(pause) <\/em>With a girl. (ADELA<\/strong> looks at MARTIRIO<\/strong>, they are mad) <\/em>You are a lesbian.<\/p>\n ADELA: <\/strong>And you are homophobic. My body and my life belong to me, and there is nothing that you can do. It is not the place to create a scene, but I know that you want attention!<\/p>\n MARTIRIO: <\/strong>(louder)<\/em> Shut up. When I tell Mam\u00e1\u2014<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ADELA: <\/strong>Why do you need to tell our mother? Because you do not have anything interesting in your life? If you are trying to ruin the day with my sexuality\u2014<\/p>\n MARTIRIO: <\/strong>Well, if none of us have a boyfriend at our sister\u2019s wedding, at least my love for men is authentic. It is going to be very interesting\u2014when I tell our mother about your secret and your \u201cgirlfriend\u201d.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n (ANGUSTIAS<\/strong> arrives with BERNARDA<\/strong>)<\/em><\/p>\n ANGUSTIAS: <\/strong>\u00a1You are so loud! Tell me the gossip.<\/p>\n ADELA:<\/strong> It\u2019s not gossip.<\/p>\n BERNARDA: <\/strong>I don\u2019t have time for your problems.<\/p>\n MARTIRIO:<\/strong> It is only Adela\u2019s problem. My crazy sister has to run away to New Zealand to get married, and she still would not be normal.<\/p>\n ANGUSTIAS: <\/strong>Martirio!<\/p>\n ADELA: <\/strong>Enough! My sexuality is not shameful. It should not be a political question. You treat me like an illness, but soon I will be able to marry in Australia. And, Martirio still will be single because she always puts her nose in other people\u2019s business. (ANGUSTIAS<\/strong> starts to cry, BERNARDA<\/strong> is mad) <\/em>And mother, mam\u00e1 . . . I had tried to tell you, I was going to tell you, but it was too much\u2014<\/p>\n Bernarda: <\/strong>Enough.<\/p>\n Cut the scene to black.<\/em><\/p>\n The final scene: a dark room. It is quiet and empty with the exception of BERNARDA<\/strong>, who sits in a chair next to a desk. ANGUSTIAS<\/strong> enters.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n ANGUSTIAS: <\/strong>(hesitantly) <\/em>It is two o\u2019clock.<\/p>\n BERNARDA: <\/strong>Yes. You should sleep. I need to think.<\/p>\n ANGUSTIAS: <\/strong>I think about you, mam\u00e1. I worry about you.<\/p>\n BERNARDA:<\/strong> I am fine\u2014truly. And I love you a lot, and you need to return to Pepe.<\/p>\n (ANGUSTIAS<\/strong> leaves)<\/em><\/p>\n |