Spanish Theater Before the Civil War: Trends & Authors
Spanish Theater Before the Civil War
Spanish theater before the Civil War emerged as a genre driven by entrepreneurs seeking works that appealed to the bourgeois public for financial gain. The bourgeoisie favored pieces that provided aesthetic and ideological entertainment without delving too deeply into reality. This led to the rise of two distinct theatrical trends: the successful commercial theater and the innovative theater, which included elite authors from the Generation of ’98 and ’27.
Commercial Theater
Commercial theater can be divided into three main categories:
- Bourgeois Comedy: The most prominent representative of this genre was Jacinto Benavente. His works offered a critique of bourgeois society, characterized by careful use of language and escapist themes that avoided direct engagement with social reality. Notable works include La Malquerida (a rural drama) and Los Intereses Creados (contrasting idealistic and rogue characters).
- Poetic Drama: This form featured works written in verse, blending romantic historical drama with a superficial modernist language. It was a conservative theater in terms of ideas, often revisiting past legends and national history. Key authors include Eduardo Marquina and the Machado brothers.
- Comic Theater: This trend focused on light-hearted themes, simple plots, and happy endings. It often featured popular and authentic characters who elicited humor through their language. Prominent representatives include Carlos Arniches, known for his sketches of Madrid life; the Álvarez Quintero brothers, who wrote comedies of manners set in Andalusia; and Pedro Muñoz Seca, the creator of a new genre called Astracanada, characterized by obvious jokes and outlandish situations.
Innovative Theater
The innovative theater movement originated from a bourgeois minority connected to European culture through the Institución Libre de Enseñanza, which introduced new ideas from European theater. Many of these works did not connect with the general public, and some were never staged. The authors of the Generation of ’27 aimed not only to debut their works but also to educate the public. To achieve this, they established theater companies that toured the villages of Spain, such as Lorca’s La Barraca, and participated in government-subsidized pedagogical missions led by theater companies like those of Max Aub and Alejandro Casona.
Valle-Inclán
One of the most significant authors of this period is Valle-Inclán. His work can be divided into four groups:
- Early Dramatic Works: These works displayed a modernist aesthetic, incorporating characters with realistic attitudes.
- Mythic Cycle: Set in rural Galicia, these plays incorporated mythical references and figures like the devil and the Santa Compaña. They often featured a violent backdrop. Significant works from this period include Divinas Palabras and Comedia Bárbara.
- Farces: Featuring characters from show business, these works often employed disguises and the technique of theater within the theater. An example is La Marquesa Rosalinda.
- Esperpento: This was Valle-Inclán’s unique creation, a way of viewing reality from above, distorting characters and settings. It employed the technique of animating characters while depicting miserable environments. A representative work of this subgenre is Luces de Bohemia.
Federico García Lorca
Federico García Lorca was one of the most important playwrights of the time. His work was both socially and educationally driven, reflecting the clash between oppressive reality and desire. He explored themes such as the discomfort of the marginalized, the struggle against social conventions, and political critique. His plays often had tragic endings. Other characteristics of his work include the poetry of everyday life and the prominence of female protagonists dominated by patriarchal society, who embody the desire for freedom and rebellion.
His work is divided into three stages:
- 1920s: Works from this period include La Zapatera Prodigiosa.
- Year of the Trip Around New York: These works were influenced by surrealism, and a notable example is El Público.
- 1926-1936: This stage focused on women and their social status. Key works from this period include La Casa de Bernarda Alba, Yerma, and Bodas de Sangre.