House of Bernarda Alba

I must admit - I'm beginning to really like Michael John LaChiusa. I loved See What I Wanna See (at the Public last Fall) and I now adore the cast album (which Kevin can attest to). Bernarda Alba is another very satisfactory piece by Mr. LaChiusa.

The show is a musical adaptation of the play House of Bernarda Alba by Federicao Garcia Lorca. Bernarda is a tremendous woman who has just been widowed for the second time. Left behind are her mother, five daughters and three servants. She's proclaimed throughout the household that she is now in complete control and that everyone must stay inside for a period of mourning. Oddly enough, one of her daughters (Angustias) is allowed visits by her lover (Pepe el Romano) every night at her window. Rumors throughout the house are that this lover only is interested in the daughter because of her money. Lots of songs are sung about this - and we learn that the youngest daughter (Adela) is secretely in love with Pepe. Several of the daughters try to warn Bernarda of the dangers of this - but their warnings go unheard. Needless to say, this does not result in a happy ending.

Looking back after seeing the show I think I probably should have read or read about the play before seeing this musical. Not that it was terribly difficult to follow - but I think I may have taken more away from it. I found the sexual represssion within these women to be very powerful - especially in the way some of the choreography was presented. The clapping and stomping (Chiusa has a great spanish term for both that I can't recall) are very interesting and add a nice touch to the piece. I'm happy to have finally seen Phylicia Rashad on stage, after missing her on Broadway a few times. I really liked Daphne Rubin-Vega as well - and seeing an entirely female cast was empowering. Overall a solid show, and I look forward to more of Michael John LaChiusa's work.