As soon as the news of the play was out earlier in January, I immediately planned for a double mama-daughter date to catch it with my BFF mummy, girlfriend Debbie and her mum Aunty Elizabeth. We watched the beautiful and intriguing play on its opening night on 12 March 2014.
Synopsis (www.wildrice.com.sg)
One matriarch. Five daughters. Eight years of mourning.
To keep up appearances after the death of her husband, tyrannical mother Bernarda resolves to seal her family off from the world - a decision that effectively compels her five daughters to give up love and happiness for a life of duty and obligation. Within the oppressive confines of the Alba household, tensions swirl and emotions run high. The arrival of a seductive suitor lays bare the bitter rivalries and repressed sexuality that lie at the twisted, tragic heart of Bernarda's family.
The House Of Bernarda Alba is a masterpiece of modern European theatre. It is the final – and possibly finest – play written by Spanish playwright Federico García Lorca, completed shortly before he was murdered by Nationalist sympathisers in 1936.
Deftly transposed into Singapore's rigid, rule-bound Peranakan community, W!LD RICE's electrifying production of Lorca's classic play features three generations of Singapore's best actresses on one stage. Together with celebrated director Glen Goei, they bring to life an internationally-acclaimed adaptation by Singaporean playwright Chay Yew (Porcelain, A Language Of Their Own). Designing The House of Bernarda Alba are Wong Chee Wai (sets), James Tan (lighting) and Ivan Heng (costumes). This thrilling production of one of the world's greatest plays promises to be one of the highlights of 2014.
Review (Note: Spoiler alert!)
I absolutely loved it! Although this play was written in 1936, there are several themes which are relevant today. I also watched the made-for-TV movie version (1991) in English shortly after.
1. Oppression of women: Bernarda clearly represents the role of women in the home. She restricts her daughters in every aspect from what colour clothes they wear to confining them at home to whom they ought (or not ought) to marry. This resulted in boiling tensions within the daughters' hearts which proved to be unhealthy; affecting them psychologically, socially and emotionally. The all-women only cast is symbolic of the irony of the oppression theme that exists throughout the play.
2. Tragedy: The youngest daughter, Adela, kills herself at the end of the play. It has a similar irony as Romeo & Juliet in that the reason of suicide was due to the belief that her lover, Pepe, was dead and who was later revealed to be in fact, alive. Bernarda had lied in her attempt to deter the relationship. Unfortunately, the "protective" lie was in fact a destructive one.
3. Sibling Rivalry: Among the 5 sisters, there exists love and care for one another (though subtly expressed). What you see more is sibling rivalry, comparisons being made with one another and conflicts arising (especially of the mutual love interest, Pepe). This is largely because of the suppressed tensions within.
4. Authoritarianism: The all-authoritative and seemingly harsh mother, Bernarda, is strict with her views on tradition, observances of the family and cultural practices and on the differences between men and women. She is the epitomy of a woman who wants and needs to always be in control.
5. Prejudice / Reputation: Bernarda holds her family in high social class and feels that no man in town is worthy enough to marry her daughters. She is preoccupied with money as a means of being superior. After Adela dies, she ascertains the fact that Adela dies a virgin to protect the dignity of the family or in other words, "to save face". It can be noted though that if you look deeper inside beneath Bernarda's tough unshaking exterior, one can slightly see a mother's strong love within.
Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Catch The House of Bernarda Alba at the Drama Centre from 12 - 29 March 2014; tickets available at SISTIC (www.sistic.com.sg).
