Lope de Vega's "Fuente Ovejuna"
With women leading the way, a town will be liberated from a despotic commander when Brigham Young University’s Department of Theatre and Media Arts presents the Spanish Golden Age masterpiece “Fuente Ovejuna” Sept. 21-Oct. 8 at 7:30 p.m. in the Pardoe Theatre.
Dress rehearsals performances will run Sept. 21-22, and a matinee is scheduled for Sept. 24 at 2 p.m. There will be no evening performances Sept. 24 and 27 and Oct. 1 and no performances on Sundays or Mondays.
Tickets are $12 or $9 with BYU or student ID. Seats for dress rehearsals and matinee performances are $5. Tickets may be purchased by calling the Fine Arts Ticket Office at (801) 422-4322 or by visiting http://performances.byu.edu.
“Fuente Ovejuna,” written by Lope de Vega and translated by Gwynne Edwards, draws upon an actual 15th-century event when the villagers of Fuente Ovejuna rose up and took action against a licentious overlord. In a twist on typical chivalry, the women lead the men to avenge their wrongs and reclaim their honor.
“‘Fuente Ovejuna’ is a brilliant play about love, honor, valiant women and justice,” said director Nestor Bravo Goldsmith. “Lope knew very well how to entertain and catch his contemporary audience, who probably shouted and threw tons of rotten fruit at the commander [on stage].”
“The play is a deep analysis about the mechanisms of power, rebellion and the consequences of exerting authority unjustly,” Goldsmith said.
Laurencia, the female who leads the villagers in action, is played by Megan Pugmire Hinmon, while the corrupt commander Fernan Gomez de Guzman is played by Dustin Siler. Other cast members include Leslie Lewis, Gustavo Soares, Jon Pinney, Arisael Rivera, Jorge Chauca, John-Ross Boyce, Dennis Meyer, Rushit Hila, James Jones, Janine Sobeck, Elisabeth Ellsworth, Genna Gardner, Morag Plaice and Liliana Corona.
The production team includes scenic designer Eric Fielding, costume designer John Titensor, lighting designer Michael G. Handley, production stage manager Melani Boren and dramaturg Elisabeth Ellsworth.
For more information, contact Nestor Bravo Goldsmith at (801) 422-2482.
Writer: Brian Rust
