Guernica Goodbye
Synopsis
![Progress Theatre, Reading production [MP]](media\guernica_shaving.jpg)
Love overcomes hatred in liberated Chartres.
Chartres in 1944 is a time of lionising heroes and denouncing collaborators. Solana is celebrating the Liberation when her grandson Rafael visits with a disclosure. The two were the only family survivors from the Fascist bombing of Guernica, and now Rafael has fallen in love with a German woman.
His confession is stalled by the presence of Resistance leader Jacques, a braggart and Solana's new young lover. Rafael assembles a different picture of the heroic Resistance fighter. As questions surface, tensions build and break into a violent realignment of passions.
Zealot, hero and functionary - the black and white first impressions are etched away to reveal their underlying canvas.
The image right [MP], shows the Progress production of Guernica Goodbye (top to bottom): Evelyn Frith (Solana), Steve Webb (Jacques), Marc Ray (Rafael)
History
- Script wins drama competition The script was winner of the Drama Association of Wales Play writing competition.
- First performance by Progress Theatre, Reading. Actors (as per cast list): Evelyn Frith, Marc Ray, Steve Webb. Directed by Terry Mackay.
- Multiple awards at Henley-on-Thames Drama Festival. The production by Progress Theatre won three awards. Evelyn Frith won Best Actress, Marc Ray won Best Actor and for the Production.
- Finalist in theatre drama competition. The script was short listed for production by Skipton Little Theatre.
- Best Actress award at Welsh Drama Festival. Hilary Harvey of Seesaw Productions won Best Actress award at the Welsh Drama Festival in Milford Haven.
Availability
The stage script is published by The Drama Association of Wales. Visit the DAW website.
For information email Teresa Hennessy at DAW.
Staging
Cast
In order of appearance.
| Solana | F | Mid 50s | Spanish, feisty, strong willed, good looking. |
| Rafael | M | Late teens | Solana's grandson, born Raoul. Conscientious, non-confrontational. |
| Jacques | M | Late 20s | Resistance Fighter. An arrogant braggart. |
Features
- The dialogue is sectioned with three ritualistic passages lifted from the realism. These should be distinguished by light and sound.
- The set is minimalist using three images from the painting Guernica , each representing a character in the play.
Set
The action takes place over a single time span in the living room of SOLANA's apartment in Chartres. The fittings of the apartment are symbolic, being three flats. Each flat represents an element inspired by the painting Guernica by Pablo Picasso and re-created in a Picassoesque style. Off centre, up stage is the whinnying HORSE, the screaming MOTHER mid-stage to the same side, and down stage on the other side is the broken SOLDIER.
A French tricolour is draped over and totally obscuring MOTHER. Dress-making scissors, a 12"/30cm rule and sewing paraphernalia are near by.
Other elements from the painting can be used to furnish the room minimally eg the sharp-perspective table, a chair. The furnishings must not obscure the three flats. The high contrast motif of the painting should be universal. Two exits are recognised: one from the apartment to the cellar; the other to adjoining rooms.
The living room is lit by a central stark light. The ritual sections identified in the directions should be marked by distinctive sound and lighting.