Calderón's Mayor: Honor Humanized

Extract

The ambiance of The Mayor of Zalainea (El alcalde de Zalainea) is free-flowing and quick-changing. Though many scenes take place in Crespo's house, the impression is that the out-of-doors predominates, that things are literally and figuratively out in the open. From the soldier Rebolledo's raucous expostulations against marching orders in the opening scene, to the crowds of farmers, soldiers, and officials listening to the banter of Don Lope and Crespo, Chispa and Rebolledo in the closing scenes, the play abounds with jaunty speech, the excited intermingling of classes, and rapid scene shifts which follow the intrigue and the conflicts of interests. Characters tend to pair off and move now toward and now away from other pairs as they reflect or mark off changes of situation: Rebolledo and La Chispa, his sweetheart; the captain Don Álvaro and his sergeant; the impoverished hidalgo Don Mendo and Nuño his servant; Pedro Crespo the mayor and Don Lope the commander; Crespo and his son Juan; Crespo and his daughter Isabel; and finally, Isabel and her cousin Inés.