Antonio Buero Vallejo.
Photography: Instituto Cervantes.
Antonio Buero Vallejo placeholder image was born on September 29 in the 1916 Guadalajara and, in addition to being one of the most renowned Spanish playwrights, he was also a painter. In fact, he was trained at the San Fernando School of Fine Arts in Madrid. He was in prison from 1939 to 1946, where he coincided with Miguel Hernández and with whom he made a great friendship. Already in freedom he began to collaborate in various magazines such as dibujante y short piece writer theatrical.
En 1949 published what is his most famous work, History of a ladder, who got the Lope de Vega Award. With it, he achieved enormous public success at the Spanish Theater in Madrid. Later he continued writing and premiering more works such as The weaver of dreams, The expected signal o A dreamer for a people. They are also The concert of Saint Ovid o Skylight. This is one selection of some fragments of them to remember.
Antonio Buero Vallejo - Fragments of his works
Skylight
VINCENT. It is not madness, it is old age. [A very common thing:] arteriosclerosis. Now he will be more restrained at home: I gave them television last month. [You will have to hear the things the old man will say.] You will not like this postcard. You don't see people.
THE FATHER. This one can also go up.
MARIO. Where?
THE FATHER. To the train.
MARIO. What train?
THE FATHER. To that one.
MARIO. That is a skylight.
THE FATHER. What do you know…
ENCARNA. We will not leave?
MARIO. Vicente will come today.
THE FATHER. What Vicente?
MARIO. Don't you have a son named Vicente?
THE FATHER. Yes, the oldest. I don't know if he lives.
MARIO. It comes every month.
THE FATHER. And who are you?
MARIO. Mario.
THE FATHER. Your name is after my son.
MARIO. I'm your son.
THE FATHER. Mario was smaller.
MARIO. I have grown.
THE FATHER. Then you will climb better.
MARIO. Where?
THE FATHER. To the train.
Irene or the treasure
Irene, I love you. I love you! Hey, I already blurted it out! No! Don't say anything yet. Let me explain first. I want you to marry you and to get you out of this hell where you are tormented. I know I'm worth nothing. Go figure! A poor professor without a chair or resources; one more of the infinite army of graduates in Philosophy who have nowhere to fall dead. "The student thundered," as Don Dimas says. My life has passed me by and I am homeless. With the few pesetillas of the land that I have in my town and what I get from the classes, I can hardly live. I have nothing, and what is worse, I also lost illusions. Years ago I stopped taking oppositions, because others who were smarter or more alive always won the game. I am a loser ... A useless I know (Short pause). but, for that very reason, I dare to speak to you. We are two lonely. I do not intend to fight against your memories, but I want to save you from the horrendous melancholy in which I see you live ... And, also that you save me. You are giving me back my faith in life, which I have lost. Since I've known you, I want to fight again. You have done the miracle, my sweet, my sad Irene. Keep saving me, you who can do it, And save yourself! ... Accept me.
History of a ladder - End of Act I
FERNANDO.- No. I beg you. Do not leave. You must hear me ... and believe me. Come. Like then.
CARMINA.-If they see us!
FERNANDO.- What do we care? Carmina, please believe me. I can not live without you. I'm desperate. I am drowned by the ordinariness that surrounds us. I need you to love me and comfort me. If you don't help me, I won't be able to get ahead.
CARMINA.-Why don't you ask Elvira?
FERNANDO.- You love me! I knew it! You had to love me! Carmina, my Carmina!
CARMINA.- And Elvira?
FERNANDO.- I hate her! He wants to hunt me down with his money. I can not see it!
CARMINA.- Me neither!
FERNANDO.- Now I would have to ask you: And Urbano?
CARMINA.- He's a good boy! I am crazy for him! Fool!