Lorca's dark drama revisited

Alba's daughters

Image: Liz Black

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Review

'The House of Bernada Alba' by Federico Garcia Lorca

David Hare’s new adaptation of Lorca’s domestic drama, The House of Bernarda Alba is given an impressive airing by the all-female cast in this production at Bedlam.

Mourning the death of their father, five daughters experience consuming claustrophobia and competition as they live under the brutal tyranny of their mother. Holly McLay as Bernarda presents a terrifying antithesis of motherliness, yet throughout the piece compellingly exposes the humanity of a grieving woman striving to maintain her reputation by restricting her daughters’ freedom to associate with men.

The sisterly affection between the five daughters feels at times a little forced, which dehumanises their interactions and prevents sympathy. However, the cast work well together and bring out the agony of unfulfilled desire. The girls’ gossiping with the servants who convincingly bustle about their household chores is a delight to watch.

Rosa Bransky’s subtle and heartfelt presentation of Poncia the housekeeper, whose advice about men is respected by the girls and even the obstinate Bernarda, brings out Lorca’s depiction of female intuition particularly well: she tells the girls, "At my age, remember, women can see through walls." Bernarda’s preoccupation with preserving her family’s reputation leads her to dismiss Poncia’s advice to the final detriment of her daughters’ happiness. Meanwhile, casting an addictive spell of attraction over three of the daughters is the absent male figure of Pepé, the eldest daughter’s fiancé, instigating suitably bitchy competition.

The direction of Antonia Alonzo is predominantly very good, though the production would benefit from more risk-taking: daring to make the actresses stand still rather than endlessly pace, or speak in venomous whispers rather than shout would add variation to the tensest moments. There is, however, some effective geometric blocking and fantastic costuming which combine to make a visually striking production. It is a privilege, though emotionally draining, to witness a cast of strong female actresses draw out the complexities of femininity and desire from Lorca’s text.

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