He actor Arturo Querejeta (Logroño, La Rioja), Rojas Theater Prize in the last edition for ‘Monstres. The Prodigy of the Gods’ returns to Toledo this Sunday at 7:00 p.m., at the El Greco Auditorium, with the work ‘The Mayor of Zalamea’ by Calderón de la Barca. The set is included in the 32 Classical theater exhibition “Toledo Siglo de Oro”.
“The Mayor of Zalamea”, one of the most recognized works and important works of the classic playwright (Calderón de la Barca), it talks about much more than what it tells in its plot, as usually happens in all great works. In addition to the political tension that breathes between the lines, his poetry and perfect formal construction of his charactersfor me its greatest value is to give the spectator a role of jury in the face of the different forms of behavior that are established within a society.
“The Mayor of Zalamea” It is a drama of honor and dignityas the director of the play points out, Jose Luis Alonso of Santos. Perhaps, after “Life is a Dream”, it is one of the most performed plays of the Golden Age. Labor conflict is the injustice and struggle of the people against excessive and poorly exercised power. A conflict that continues to rage today, as it has for 300 years. But the problem with this montage is not that, but something else.
The plot
The story is well known: troops heading to war in Portugal were stationed in the city. Zalamea Extremadura. The captain of the troops, Don Álvaro (Javier Lara), He rapes the daughter of the peasant Pedro Crespo (Arturo Querejeta) who, recently appointed mayor of the city, proposes to the captain to marry her. The captain rejects the offer and demands that he be turned over to the army where he will face a court martial, over which he has no jurisdiction. Crespo refuses, judges him and executes him with the garrote.
Finally, King Philip II will arrive and seeing that “this has already been done”, he judges that “it does not matter who is the least wrong who is the most right” and appoints Crespo mayor in perpetuity.
The director recognized that the play includes several dialogues between Crespo and Don Lope de Figueroa (Daniel Albadalejo), a military hero of the Tiers, which are among the best writings in Spanish theatrical literature. He also has a tragic hero like Crespofull of common sense of simple Spanish. “It’s a well-structured drama in three days, it makes action and rhythm possible,” stressed José Luis Alonso of Santos.
