20th-Century Spanish Theater: From Tradition to Modernism

Early 20th-Century Spanish Theater

This era of theater emerged as a reaction against the spirit and critical vision of the Generation of '98, which challenged traditional Spanish history. These authors displayed a nostalgic view of the past, often focusing on iconic figures like El Cid, the Catholic Monarchs, the Great Captain, or the Tercios of Flanders.

The Comic Theater

This form of theater was favored by the working class and encompassed a wide range of performances, including short, one-act plays known as sainetes, which flourished under Carlos Arniches. These plays often featured a diverse cast of characters and their everyday struggles, reminiscent of 17th-century Golden Age comedies. Within this genre, tragedias grotescas, such as "La señorita de Trevélez," highlighted aspects of Spanish society already explored by the Generation of '98. Of lesser prominence was the astracán subgenre, known for its wordplay, exemplified by Pedro Muñoz Seca's "The Revenge of Don Menudo."

Main Theatrical Currents

Three main currents dominated public taste and dramatic productions in the decades leading up to the Spanish Civil War:

Bourgeois Comedy

Also known as Benaventine comedy after its most prominent playwright, Jacinto Benavente. Moving away from the grandiloquent dramas of José Echegaray, Benavente developed a style tailored to the bourgeois dramas of his time. His plays featured upper-class characters and explored conflicts typical of their social group, using witty language and subtle irony. A notable example is "Los intereses creados" ("The Bonds of Interest"), which depicts two rogues manipulating the interests that govern a community.

Poetic Theater

Also referred to as historical or modern verse theater, this movement represented the rise of Modernism on stage. It featured varied verse forms, musicality, rich language, exotic settings, and characters true to their historical context. The staging remained faithful to the historical environments.