Lorca’s play centres on the story of the relationship of Bernarda Alba and her five unmarried daughters. Bernarda Alba is a controlling and domineering widow who insists that all five daughters should remain in mourning for their dead father,
and that they should be isolated with her on the family estate for eight years. This sets up unresolvable tensions as the five daughters respond with frustration and anger to their mother’s cruelty. The play ends in violence.
The scenes in the performance have been chosen as they require only four actors. The characters played are:
- La Poncia - Candidate 1 (Maid)
- Adela - Candidate 2 (Daughter)
- Martirio - Candidate 3 (Daughter)
- Bernarda - Candidate 4 (Mother)
We see extracts from Act 2 and Act 3, which involve all four children. All of the dialogue appears in the order it appears in the play. Sections have been omitted so that the extract does not exceed the time limit.
00:44 Piece starts - all characters enter, led by the mother Bernarda. They all deliver the opening speech in unison
01:36 Slow transition into the next scene, which is set at the central table. Adela discusses her sister and her troubles with the maid, Poncia.
04:42 Martirio enters the scene briefly and the scene ends with a Black-out.
05:08 After a slow transition the next scene begins, with the mother shouting at her daughters off-stage. They all enter.
05:52 The mother and maid are left on stage. Their relationship is established in this long scene.
09:55 The daughters enter.
11:02 The maid leaves to see what the crows is doing outside the house and the mother is left with the two daughters. She leaves and the daughters talk.
11:29 The maid rushes in, accompanied by a sound effect of crowds.
12:43 Black-out signifying a passing of time. Mother and maid enter.
14:10 The mother leaves and Adela joins the maid briefly.
14:54 New scene begins with the sisters arguing about the man Adela is in love with.
16:30 A whistle signifies the presence of this man and Martirio calls her mother, who dashes out to apprehend him.
17:17 A shot gun sound is heard, and they all enter the room again. Adela runs out in despair. 30 seconds later, we hear another noise and the women become worried for her safety. She has killed herself and her mother tells the others how to react in public.
18:52 A black-our to signify the end of the scene. The three characters do the final speech in unison as they did at the start.
