Analysis of Scenery, Dialogue, and Language in Theater
Scenery in Theater
The scenery, as described in the prologue of a neighborhood theater, is dirty and vulgar. In the first act, the room of Mariana’s father’s house is described. The rare combination of furniture and the limited space create an absurd and overwhelming feeling. In the second act, Ojeda’s property features a lobby that feels old and worn, with antique furniture.
Dialogue and Character Madness
Reflecting the characters’ madness, much of the dialogue is absurd. The language is cultivated due to the characters being wealthy and distinguished. Fermin and Leoncio make ironic comments about the characters’ craziness, and Praxedes and Miss Micaela deliver notable monologues. Examples include:
- Leoncio: “…and travel and not be derailed never clear…”
- Praxedes: “Can you? Yes, because there is nobody. What no one? Well there is someone, but as if there was nobody. Hi, What is it? What are you doing here? Wasting time is not it? You say no, but I say yes. What? Ah! Okay so….”
Language: Cultivated vs. Popular
In the prologue, both cultivated and popular language are used. Clotilde and Mariana use rich, refined language due to their social class. For example:
Mariana: “Do not waste your wit, Aunt Clotilde, this is not your audience.”
However, other characters use slang. For example:
Usher: “Faster! It’s true… Well I’m good! Usté Excuse, miss. Let’s see the town?”
In the two acts, only cultivated language is used, as the characters are either distinguished or their servants.
Enrique Jardiel Poncela: A Pioneer of Implausibility
Enrique Jardiel Poncela (Madrid 1901-1952) was a Spanish playwright whose exploration of implausibility aligns him with the theater of the absurd. Notable works include “Heloise is Beneath an Almond Tree,” “Love is Written Without H,” and “The Thieves are Honest People.”
His novelty is characterized by:
- Improbable situations, adjacent to the theater of the absurd.
- Extensive use of comedy in language.
- Dramatic construction that allows for surprise and humor.
- Integration of detective novel elements.
- Intellectual humor, witty and sarcastic.
Beneath the ridiculous situations lies a bitter criticism of society, reflecting a disenchanted view of reality.
Humorous Theater and Postwar Literature
In modern literature, a group of comedians associated with the magazine The Quail employed satirical humor. Authors like Jardiel Poncela and Miguel Mihura exploited the comic possibilities of language through puns. Often, the humor reveals a bitter and skeptical view of reality.
Key authors of this genre include Jardiel Poncela (1901-1952) and Miguel Mihura (1906-1977).