The Lady Boba: A Woman of Little Sense

Lope De Vega, David Johnston

• Editore: Oberon Books
• Anno: 2013
• ISBN:
  9781783195435
• Edizione: 1
• Argomento: Literature
• Categoria: European Drama

Nise and Finea are famous beauties. Their father, Don Octavio, a wealthy businessman, is doing his best to marry them off and an exotic collection of determined young suitors are competing for the prizes. The sticking point? Nise, the elder sister, is too clever for her own good, whilst younger sister Finea is notoriously stupid. Can the family hide Finea's shortcomings long enough to hoodwink a suitor into marriage? Surely the combination of a dancing master and a huge dowry will do the trick? The ploy is more successful than anyone might have anticipated… A Woman of Little Sense is a big-hearted and hilarious romantic comedy which celebrates the power of love.

Act One

SCENE 1

At the entrance to a wayside inn: Illescas, a town of undeserved fame. LISEO, a gentleman, accompanied by his servant TURIN, both dressed for the road.

LISEO:	Very good inn.
TURIN:	Lungfuls of good air.
LISEO:	Nice and cool.
TURIN:	Broken windows. That helps.
LISEO:	So this is it. The famous Illescas. Nowhere like Illescas. They say.
TURIN:	Know why?
LISEO:	Do tell me.
TURIN:	Travellers’ tales. ‘Look at me, I've been to Illescas’.
LISEO:	It's a crossroads, Turin, a rendez-vous, between the Court and Seville, a meeting place for the old world and the new. Heroes from the Indies, counts from the Court flaunting themselves, mouthy merchants touting their wares. Everyone else just sits and stares, thinking my God, this is some place, They make sure people know they were here. That's why. All your devotions done?
TURIN:	Holy water, votive candles…
LISEO:	Holy medals?
TURIN:	Every one of them miraculous. She's in the proverbial bag. You'll be married before you know it.
LISEO:	Then we should be hitting the road.
TURIN:	Hold your horses. So to speak. Breakfast?
LISEO:	We've half a day's journey ahead; if I'm to be the light of her life I have to appear with the sun, not come marauding through the night like some sleazy Don Juan.
TURIN:	I've got…
LISEO:	What?
TURIN: (Rummaging.) Something…
LISEO:	What thing?
TURIN:	Wait…
LISEO:	Come on!
TURIN:	You're getting ratty; you're hungry.
LISEO:	What?
TURIN:	It's… not… well, not the finest…
LISEO:	Ratty… is that some sort of clue?
TURIN:	No, but…
LISEO:	It's not horse, is it?
TURIN:	Ta Ra! Pork!
LISEO:	Is it safe? The pork?
TURIN:	Of course. It's only ten days old. Look, and a box of sugared fruit.
LISEO:	I don't eat sweets. They're for ladies. I like cheese though.
TURIN:	Cheese's for bumpkins. You're a newborn lady's man. I haven't got any cheese.
LISEO:	Newborn Turin, but not yet baptised.
TURIN:	And a Court lady's man to boot. Like the finest cut glass, they say. Transparent divine goddesses.
LISEO:	Even the divinest have to eat.
TURIN:	Maybe … this girly of yours, what would she eat in a day?
LISEO:	Finea. You...