Federico Garcia Lorca was one of the world finest symbolist poets, and his drama is always infused with myth and metaphor. The production of his “Blood Wedding,” currently playing at the GALA Theatre at Tivoli Square, sensitively capitalizes on Garcia Lorca’s commitment to drama as a poetic, allegorical experience.
“Blood Wedding” begins with a young man who wants to marry, but his mother does not approve of his choice — a young woman who once loved another man, Leonardo. The play creates a web of anguish on the part of the mother, the bride-to-be and Leonardo, who is now married with a family. Only the bridegroom is looking forward to the wedding with joy. He is crushed whenhe realizes that his bride has run off with Leonardo.
It’s difficult to stage “Blood Wedding,” since Garcia Lorca was writing about rural people in his native Andalusia, with their unsophisticated traditions and propensity toward violence. To 21st-century eyes and ears, the play can seem melodramatic, its characters ferociously representing or rebelling against repressive social norms.
But director Hugo Medrano has done a fine job of retaining all the energy and passion in the play, while keeping the action from seeming unrealistic or overstated.
The play is performed by a talented ensemble of 22 actors. Six performers are particularly worthy of note: Bridegroom (Frank Velez Rodriguez), Mother (Maria Victoria Peña), Leonardo (Carlos Castillo), Bride (Karen Morales-Chacana), Bride’s Father (Mel Rocher) and Servant Woman (Ediza Vega). Marta Carton Campbell is stunning as the ethereal Moon.
Medrano has cleverly woven music through the production, including an inspired flamenco dance by Genoveva Guinn, accompanied by Ramin Rad’s fiery guitar, and a haunting melody sung by three woodcutters (Oscar Ceville, Manolo Santalla and Alex Iraheta).
There’s marvelous texture in this production, from the music and dance (choreography by Danilo Rivera and Genoveva Guinn) to Martha Mountain’s subtle lighting. Giorgio Tsappas’ minimal set, with partial views of off-white stucco walls and a few wooden chairs, nicely mirrors the earthy, unadorned life of Garcia Lorca’s characters, an existence not as much lived as endured.
‘Blood Wedding’
By Federico Garcia Lorca
In Spanish, English subtitles
Through April 27
» Venue: Gala Theatre at Tivioli Square, 333 14th St. NW
» Performances: 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays;
3 p.m. Sundays
» Tickets: $30 to $34
» More info: 202-234-7171, www.galatheatre.org
