Mentidero: Vidas Paralelas: La Comedia Española y el Teatro Isabelino Almagro, 16-19 July 1991

MENTIDERO VIDAS PARALELAS: LA COMEDIA ESPAÑOLA Y EL TEATRO ISABELINO ALMAGRO, 16-19 JULY 1991 DAWN L. SMITH Trent University A second version of Parallel Lives Spanish and English National Drama, 1500-1601 (first held in Calgary, Canada, in October, 1987) was organized by Louise and Peter Fothergill-Payne in July, 1991. This time the international symposium was held in Almagro, Spain, and coincided with the XIV Festival Internacional de Teatro Clásico, which takes place annually in that town. The symposium was attended by some sixteen participants from Spain, Great Britain , Israel, Canada and the United States. Sessions were open to the public and were well attended, particularly by a number of students connected with the Festival. During the three and a half days of the Symposium, participants gave papers, attended workshops and saw theatre performances every evening. With the temperatures soaring in a summer heatwave, and performances continuing until well after midnight, there was little time for relaxing — although the hotel swimming pool at times proved irresistible. The first session of papers focussed on various comparisons between the two national theatres: Dawn Smith (Trent University, Canada): "El Alcalde de Zalamea en Londres y en Madrid: dos refundiciones de un tema clásico". — John J. Allen (University of Kentucky): "El teatro, el público y el poder en Londres y en Madrid" — Anita Stoll (Cleveland State University, "El vestuario en el teatro Globe y en el Corral en tiempos de Lope de Vega". 389 390BCom, Vol. 43, No. 2 (Winter 1991) On the second day there was a workshop in which Isaac Benabu (Hebrew University, Israel) introduced Francisco Portes, Director and leading actor with the acting company that bears his name. Portes then demonstrated ways of interpreting a classical text — based on some key scenes from Calderón's El médico de su honra. Later that day the following papers were given: —MeIveena McKendrick (Cambridge University): "El espacio simbólico y los papeles sociosexuales en el teatro en Calderón". —Sharon Voros (Naval Academy, Annapolis): "Thomas Kyd, Pedro Calderón y la semiótica de la representación femenina." —Louise Fothergill-Payne (University of Calgary, Canada): "The Taming of the Shrew y La vengadora de las mujeres." On the third day a workshop took place on the recent uncovering and planned reconstruction of the Teatro Cervantes en Alcalá de Henares. This was presented by John Varey and Charles Davis (University of London) with Juan Sanz Ballesteros and Miguel Angel Coso Marín two of those responsible for the discoveries in Alcalá, as well as for a recent book on the subject. The session was followed by a visit to the Museo del Teatro and to the Corral de Comedias. In the afternoon session papers were given by Michael McGaha (Pomona College, United States): "La figura del negro en Othello y Las misas de S. Vicente Ferrer." —Susana Hernández-Araico (California State Polytechnic University): "Coriolanus en Shakespeare y Calderón." — Frederick de Armas (Pennsylvania State University): "Astrologia y alquimia en King Lear y La vida es sueño." — Ezra Engling (Lincoln University): "La puesta en escena de La aurora en Copacabana,dz Calderón." —Teresa Kirschner (Simon Fraser University, Canada): ' 'El montaje totalizador de la conquista en el cierre de El Nuevo Mundo descubierto por Cristóbal Colón." On the last morning there were two unscheduled events — both very successful in different ways. In the first, Isaac Benabu showed a video of a recent production of Lorca's Bodas de sangre that he had directed in Jerusalem. The second consisted of an informal 'encuentro' with members of the Compañía Nacional de Teatro Clásico, including several actors from the production ofEl caballero de Olmedo which was part of the Festival playbill. Those fortunate enough to take part in this Symposium came away with a feeling of excitement and enthusiasm similar to that experienced annually at the Chamizal Festival in El Paso. In both cases the opportunity to see live theatre and, at the same time, to discuss and analyze the subject with colleagues in an intensive way, is a unique experience which stimulates and inspires us as scholars and teachers. Although the fact that this...