Evelyn Jacob
SPOTLIGHT FEATURE

ATRONS OF Van-

couver’s theatre

world gathered at
the Arts Club Granville
Island stage last night to
nibble on tasty Spanish
tapas, sip full-bodied Iberian
wines and watch flamenco
dancers grind their heels in-
to the floor.

While these so-called ‘Tastes
of Spain’’ were familiar enough to
the mainly English- speaking au-
dience, the main course of the
evening — Fernando de Rojas’
lusty romance, Celestina — was
virtually unknown.

The Arts Club production is only
the second time Celestina, con-
sidered by many to be the first
play ever performed, has been
produced on the professional
Stage in Canada, and the first time
in English — even though the
work is considered a classic in
Spanish-speaking countries.

it's something that bothered
West Vancouver playwright Steve
Petch who, after seeing several
stage versions of Celestina in Mex-

PLAYWRIGHT STEVE Petch was surprised to discover that Mexico City has a longer theatre tradi-
tion than London. “1 got really interested and thought, why can’t some of those plays be done in

Wednesday, March 25, 1992 ~ North Shore News — 25

for

Emerald Park
Restaurant
and Banquet
Facilities

Bd Special

Prime Rib
Dinners

wo QOS

NEWS photo Cindy Goodman

from 3p.m. to 5:30p.m.
7 days a week

Canada? The result is his new translation of ‘‘Celestina,’’ Fernando de Rojas’ lusty classic. The
play runs at the Arts Club Granville Island stage until Aprit 18.

ico City, decided Canadians
should become better acquainted
with de Rojas’ work.

After sitting on the idea of
translating the piece into English
for 12 tong years, he finally ap-
proached Arts Club artistic direc-
tor, Bill Millerd.

Milerd, apparently, was thrilled
with the idea and, working trom
the origina] Spanish, Petch had the
first draft of his stage adaptation
ready within two menths.

Written in the 1490s during the
Spanish Inquisition. Celestina
wasn't originally published as a

Children's Barbie Shves
$g°
Jast in time for Easter.
reg. $35.00

play: De Rojas wrote it in simple,
ly conversational prose.

That turned out to be something
of a godsend for Petch, because
prose was far easier to work with
than 15th century Spanish verse.

But that’s not to say it was

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