From April 1-4, an intimate black box theatre was condemned to silence under the tyrannical rule of Bernarda Alba.

La Casa de Bernarda Alba featured senior Jessica Lamdon as Bernarda, a domineering mother who attempts to control the lives of her five unwed daughters by subjecting them to an eight-year period of mourning after the death of their stepfather.

“Bernarda was a very challenging role for me,” said Lamdon. “She was older and in all respects, a snob. I had to get used to walking with a cane and making really dirty and snobby looks. Once I had my cane and rosary beads, I was pretty much ready to
rock-‘n’-roll.”

“La Casa,” as it is known to some, had a few inaugurals of its own. It comprised of 24 actors--the largest in Papp show history--and is also accredited for recruiting the most freshmen and sophomores for production.

“It was really interesting and fun,” said Tiffany Renee Thompson, who played La Poncia, Bernarda Alba’s housekeeper. “It was a family atmosphere. There were no cliques, no problems…minus the talking.”

Written in 1936 by Spanish poet and playwright Federico García Lorca, The House of Bernarda Alba explores the repressed lives of women in the villages of Spain.
The play’s provocative themes made it a definite candidate for staging.

“I’m interested in theatre that introduces issues of grave importance,” said Mr. Robert Elstein, Communication Arts teacher and director of the Papp show. “I think this is a play that will evoke discussion about the rules of society and techniques for proper parenting. I’m not telling people that they shouldn’t want the best for their children, but often times the traditional societal approach isn’t always effective.”

Although the show fostered friendship behind-the-scenes, the cast was often asked to physically confront their differences on stage.

“We all grew a beautiful and strong bond,” said Lamdon. “The only
uncomfortable thing for me was that I had to hit people. Oy, it’s difficult being
mean to people…especially your friends.”