Primer Congreso Internacional sobre Lope de Vega y los Origenes del Teatro Español—1980

PRIMER CONGRESO INTERNACIONAL SOBRE LOPE DE VEGA Y LOS ORÍGENES DEL TEATRO ESPAÑOL—1980 JOHN LIHANI University of Kentucky Since 1972, when Manuel Criado de Val organized the first «Primer Congreso Internacional sobre el Arcipreste de Hita,» attended by about 80 participants , interest in these international gatherings of Hispanic scholars has continued to grow. In 1980 when the so-called «Patronato 'Arcipreste de Hita'» sponsored the «Primer Congreso Internacional sobre Lope de Vega y los orígenes del teatro español,» over 300 scholars from twenty-two different countries signed up for its proceedings. The event was held at the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas on Calle de Serrano, nos. 113-123, in Madrid, from June 30 to July 5. Actual head-counts reported that slightly over 200 persons appeared at registration time on June 30 from 9 a.m. till noon at the central edifice of the CSIC. Upon entering the main building, one found the conserjes at the right counter who then referred the registrants to the tables on the left. These were manned by stewardess-trainees in their blue uniforms who handed the congresistas a folder containing duplicated synopses of the papers on the program, the schedule of meetings, an identification badge, and a receipt for the sixty dollar registration fee. Other tables around the spacious entrance hall supplied tickets to other functions, offered arrangements for personal sight-seeing excursions, and assigned contacts with representatives of the daily press. A line of tables covered with a tablecloth situated by the door to the auditorium in which most of the meetings were taking place, served quick refreshments, cocktails and snacks at very reasonable prices. This corner of the entrance hall proved to be one of the most popular meeting places between sessions for old and new friends. An additional table located centrally displayed the recent publications of the CSICs press. The acto de inauguración on June 30 at noon began with Professor Criado de Val's welcome to the participants and with introductions of the two featured speakers, Dámaso Alonso, professor emeritus of the University of Madrid, and Charles Aubrun, professor emeritus of the University of Paris. Lights and television cameras whirred during the opening remarks disrupting both the attention of the listeners and the concentration of the speakers. During subsequent days, the Conference ran four simultaneous meetings in four 767 168Bulletin ofthe Comediantes different buildings on the campus of the CSIC quadrangle. The session periods were from 9 a. m. to 11 a.m., 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. A total of about 150 attendants commuted amidst the different sessions and buildings. Participants varied slightly from day to day as some attended to other professional and personal business in Madrid, or took time out to visit cultural centers in the area. Over half of the registrants were from the United States and Puerto Rico, a quarter of the total was from Spain and the remainder was distributed among a score of different nations. Among those that sent five or more participants were Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain (including Scotland), Holland, and Italy, while those nations that contributed fewer than five representatives included Argentina, Chile, Greece, India, Ireland, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Rumania, Switzerland, Uruguay and Yugoslavia. Absenteeism was common, particularly so on the part of the anticipated U.S. contingent /in this context, one hesitates to speak of a boycott from the Soviet Union and some of its satellites, reportedly, Fuenteovejuna by Lope is a favorite play which has been translated into several Slavic languages/. Some meetings were cancelled due to «no-show» of the readers. Understandably, it is difficult to plan an international meeting. It is buffeted by a complexity of personal problems and preferences, travel funds, travel arrangements, and the like, all of which makes it nigh unto impossible to avoid a certain amount of absences. Yet a closer monitoring of replies from would-be-participants and more realistic updating of the program would decrease the inconveniences and the unpleasant surprises of «no-show». The Conference was planned around four categories which were designated for the four meeting rooms...