Celestina
Play Description
Celestina, madam of the local brothel, is commissioned by a nobleman to help him seduce a beautiful young woman. Using all her wiles and with the help of two greedy servants she goes about weaving her spells … with tragic results. CELESTINA has been a pivotal work of European culture since 1499, when it was first performed, and the character of the ever-resourceful procuress Celestina has inspired artists from Goya to Picasso.
Production Info
Cast: 10 total (5 female, 5 male)Full Length Drama (about 150 minutes)
Minimal Set Requirements
Period Costumes
- Reviews
- About the Author(s)
- About the Book
- Special Notes
Press Quotes
“CELESTINA is a Spanish dialogue classic … Its marvellous central character … is part Mother Courage, part Fagin. She really controls the action and pulls the strings of the satellites who are compelled to orbit around her. Her charges are unattractive prostitutes and inadequates. They attract her customers such as cynical Sempronio, desperate and often funny Pármeno, and the young love-lorn Calisto. She also has a nice line in the honourable profession of creating virgins using needle and thread. Eventually, with Mother Celestina’s help and a little assistance from the Black Arts, most of these individuals receive satisfaction but it rarely makes them happy. The main plot line revolves around vain Calisto’s love for the unresponsive Melibea. The final scene is unbearably poignant, as Melibea explains her plight to her well-to-do father, prior to a dramatic, tragic death … The translation by Jo Clifford is modern and feisty and, at its best, often poetic. He emphasises that while this version is much shorter than the original, he has remained faithful to the structure and sentiments of de Rojas.” —Philip Fisher, The British Theatre Guide
Book Information
Publisher | Nick Hern Books |
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Publication Date | 4/1/2005 |
Pages | 128 |
ISBN | 9781854598189 |
Special Notes
If original stage producers credits appear in bold below, all licensees are required to include them in the following form on the title page in all programs distributed in connection with performances of the Play and in all advertising in which the full cast appears in size of type not less than ten percent (10%) of the size of the title of the Play:
In addition, the following must appear within all programs distributed in connection with performances of the Play:
by special arrangement with Broadway Play Publishing Inc, NYC
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