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- Quince peldaños
- Staging information
Quince peldaños (2000), Gracia Morales Ortiz
- Scene
This is a one-act play.
- Staging
The play takes place in an area described as neither nice nor threatening. There are metal chairs strewn around which Elias uses in the course of the play to construct his own platform. A large clock hangs from the roof. The action only begins when the clock strikes 10a.m.
Julia is in her late twenties or early thirties. She sits atop 15 steps with a pair of binoculars round her neck. At times, she notes things on a pad of paper. When she needs anything from the ground, Andres puts it in a basket on a rope which she then pulls up the stairs.
Andres is in his forties. He spends much of his time packing and unpacking suitcases. The suitcases contain typical holiday items – sunscreen, shampoo, light clothing. Andres frequently consults a large map which covers much of the floor of the stage.
Elias is in his late teens or early twenties. He is dressed casually and carries a backpack. During the action of the play, he puts on and later takes off a suit belonging to Andres.
At the end of the play Andres sits on top of the 15 steps. Music plays and images are projected on a screen. They show soldiers coming back from war; a city destroyed by flood or a hurricane; a crowded stadium; a president giving a speech; a mother breastfeeding her child; a student demonstration; a toothless smiling old man; a group of people getting off a boat. The final image is of a woman – who looks very like Julia – sitting in a small room.
- Music
A sharp whistle sounds on a number of occasions to announce which number has been called.
At one point Julia puts on headphones and we hear the piece Do Not Take Another Man’s Wife by Zbigniew Preisner from the film Trois Couleurs: Rouge. At the end of the play, the music Passion plays from the film The Last Temptation of Christ.
- Cast number
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Minimum Maximum 2 males 2 males 1 female 2 females 3 (total) 4 (total) - Cast information
- A female voice offstage speaks the lines of the 'other' Julia who does not appear on stage.
- Characters
- ANDRES
- JULIA
- ELIAS
Entry written by Gwynneth Dowling. Last updated on 12 November 2011.
