The Widow of Valencia at UC Riverside

A full production of Lope de Vega’s The Widow of Valencia is coming to UC Riverside this month.Centering the witty and determined Leonarda, who defies the wishes of her uncle by refusing to remarry, this comedia asks how a woman might satisfy her desire without sacrificing her independence. As Leonarda’s transgressions play out against a carnivalesque backdrop, the line between lust and propriety, and liberty and constraint, becomes as thin as veil.

Mexican-American director, dramaturg, and theatre artist Melanie Queponds directs the play from an adapted script of our recent translation by Diversifying the Classics. In collaboration with our UCLA translation group, she has mixed our modern English version with Lope’s original Spanish, for a rich bilingual dramatic experience that is sure to entertain. The talkback with members of the production team following the Friday, February 24 performance will include members of Diversifying the Classics. Tickets go on sale Monday, February 6, and we look forward to seeing you at the show. ¡Hasta pronto!

The Widow of Valencia at Studio Theatre (ARTS 113), UC Riverside, February 16–25, 2023: https://events.ucr.edu/event/thewidowofvalencia