Fuente Ovejuna
at Stuart High School

Reviewed on May 10, 2014

Nikki Amico
West Potomac High School
Submitted for publication to Washington Post - Fairfax

A tyrannical commander, seditious peasants, the crucible of young love: welcome to Fuente Ovejuna. Translated from a traditional Spanish text, J.E.B Stuart High School's Fuente Ovejuna attacked issues of war, rebellion, and the uniting of cultures with admirable bravura.

Published in 1619, Fuente Ovejuna was one of Lope de Vega's greatest achievements during the Spanish Golden Age of Drama. De Vega was the Spanish equivalent of Shakespeare, writing over 500 plays throughout his life. Fuente Ovejuna takes place near the end of the Spanish Reconquista, during the reign of Ferdinand and Isabella. The clash between the Arab Moors and Spanish Catholics has an underlying presence in the play, establishing the theme of cultural conflict.

The story follows the members of a small village in Spain called Fuente Ovejuna and their rebellion against an oppressive commander from the army of Juana and Alfonso of Portugal. It is based on real events that occurred in 1476; events that went down in history for the inspirational demonstration of spirit as the town came together to overthrow their cruel ruler. Though each member of the town plays a pivotal role in the conflict of the play, the story centers on a love connection between two young villagers, Laurencia and Frondoso. Early on, Laurencia catches the eye of the ruthless commander and must constantly live in fear of his wrath. Once the peasants succeed in murdering the Commander, however, Ferdinand and Isabella send judges to investigate the brutal crime. The town agrees they will fight as one; their only response when asked who killed the commander is "Fuente Ovejuna did it".

With both challenging themes and a translated script, this play is quite an undertaking for the average high school student. However, average is clearly not the case at Stuart High School. Each and every student portrayed a thoroughly developed character. Whether a nameless member of the town or the center of action, they were constantly in the moment and committed to his or her character's life. The standout performer of the show was Solome Mesfin as Laurencia. Bringing dexterity and wit to a demanding role, Mesfin handled every lengthy monologue with ease and gave a performance of professional caliber.

Ali Cheraghpour demonstrated great energy and commitment to the role of the Commander. An especially heartbreaking moment occurred when he abused the young Jacinta, played beautifully by Marley Finley. Finley delivered her lines with spot on emotion and maintained her character under difficult circumstances. Another standout was Abrahim Elzaiat as Mengo, a lovable goofball. Mengo provided comic relief in some of the most dramatic moments of the show, an arduous task that Elzaiat accomplished skillfully. Overall, the actors were the driving force of this show, performing well beyond their years and bringing Fuente Ovejuna to life.

The play was performed both on the stage and throughout the audience; two small stages were built in the seats and some scenes took place in the aisles. The lighting designers (Ethan Goldenberg and Maranda Bell) handled this unconventional set up well, as the action was always visible. Lighting also contributed to the characterization of the commander; his presence often brought red lighting that established a sinister mood.

This production was far from the traditional high school selection, but in no way did that hold back the talented students of J.E.B Stuart. The cast and crew succeeded in bringing life to a pivotal moment in Spanish history, which in turn brought life to the stage, sending chills through the audience as the villagers joined together and chorused "Fuente Ovejuna lo hizo".

Sarah Santoro
Stone Bridge High School
Submitted for publication to Washington Post - Fairfax

Hardship and suffering can bring out people's true natures. Sometimes the strength that surfaces in the face of affliction proves that people are capable of much more than they ever thought. The cast and crew of J.E.B. Stuart High School's production of Fuente Ovejuna brought the intricate and compelling tale to life in an original, interesting performance.

Fuente Ovejuna was written by the prolific Spanish playwright, Lope de Vega, whom, according to legend, wrote a play every day from the time he was 12 until he died. This particular work is thought to have been written sometime between 1612 and 1614 and was first published in 1619. It is based upon true events that occurred in 1476 in a village of the same name in Castile. The play was originally written in Spanish, however British director and Spanish Golden Age specialist Laurence Bowell translated it into English for the 2008 Stratford Festival.

In the play, military commander Fernán Gómez de Guzmán (Ali Cheraghpour) lives in the town of Fuente Ovejuna. He is despised for his tyrannous ways and lecherous treatment of young women. One of the women he most relentlessly pursues is Laurencia (Solome Mesfin), the strong, independent daughter of the town's mayor (John Lesko). When the Commander tries to forcibly have his way with her, Laurencia's sweetheart Frondoso (Marco Rojas) challenges, allowing Laurencia to escape. However, at the young couple's wedding, the Commander appears again to arrest them and take his revenge. Enraged, the village resolves to stand together and take down the hated tyrant once and for all. Even when their actions have horrible repercussions, the bond between villagers proves strong enough to withstand any obstacle.

Mesfin was strong and defiant in her powerful portrayal of courageous Laurencia. With an authoritative voice and resolute manner, she captured the passion and fire of such a dynamic character. Her performance was made even more compelling as she added to the intricacies of Laurencia by displaying a softer side when interacting with her beloved Frondoso. Rojas's depiction of Frondoso created a likeable character to compliment Laurencia.

Marley Finely stood out as Jacinta, a young girl who is kidnapped by the Commander to be given to his men. As she was dragged away, her anguish and terror were fearfully believable and her desperate screams and pleas for mercy were downright chilling.

Some actors struggled with the timing of their lines or maintaining their energy, but the sense of community felt among the villagers kept the performance convincing.

The lights were cleverly designed to match the mood of the show; bathing the stage in ominous red hues for the entrance of the despicable Commander or brightening with the intensity of the villagers as they rallied to take back their town and their honor.

Rather than occurring in Spain as originally written, the performance was intended to take place in an ambiguous setting, a fact perpetuated by the eclectic costumes with elements inspired by Spanish, Indian, and Middle Eastern cultures. Although at times the costumes seemed to be lacking cohesion or a clear vision, they served to magnify the unique and interesting choice in altering the setting.

The cast of Fuente Ovejuna brought a new take to the powerful play with their original performance. The creativity of the technical elements brought fresh ideas to the centuries old play. In their unique production, the students of J.E.B. Stuart High School showed the power of community and the strength of uniting together for a common cause.

Kevin Buckley
Stone Bridge High School
Submitted for publication to ShowBizRadio.net

What would you do if your town were being run by an evil tyrant? Your friends, your family, even your livelihood all at risk of being snatched away from you with just the flick of a hand from a military leader who is supposed to protect you? Would you sit back and hope it gets better, or would you fight to take control? All of these questions and more were asked in J.E.B. Stuart High School's production of Fuente Ovejuna.

Written by legendary Spanish playwright Lope de Vega, Fuente Ovejuna was first published in 1619 during the Golden Age of Spain. Almost 400 years later, the Stratford Players translated the archaic Spanish text into English and preformed it as a part of the 2008 Stratford Shakespeare Festival. The dramatic comedy tells the story of the villagers of Fuente Ovejuna and a military leader named The Commander (played by Ali Cheraghpour), who tries to use his power to get women from the village. When The Commander threatens the life of Laurencia (Solome Mesfin), her soon-to-be-fiancé Frondoso (Marco Rojas) threatens to kill him if he doesn't let her go. As The Commander vows revenge on the whole town, the villagers rise up against his rule and kill him themselves. When King Ferdinand sends the magistrate to find the killer, the villagers only respond to the question of who did it by saying "Fuente Ovejuna did it".

As Laurencia, Solome Mesfin presented an excellent display of emotion and depth in her character. Always engaged in the scene at hand, Mesfin never lacked focus, bringing high energy and deep sentiment to the stage. Her enunciation and projection in a show that was often without microphones was spot on, never leaving any word unheard or not understood. The dynamic between her and Rojas as a couple in love was notably well developed and realistic.

The ensemble-heavy show also excelled, particularly in performances by Abrahim Elzaiat, who played Mengo, and Sam Williams, who played Barrildo. Elzaiat, as the comedic relief, provided great text understanding, difficult considering how dated the jokes he was saying truly are. Williams displayed great vocals in many of the play's festive songs, even singing a cappella at times, a truly difficult feat in a play setting.

Lighting and costumes were also of note. The lights, led by Ethan Goldenberg and Maranda Bell, were impressive in their accomplishments, especially in the use of lighting in the audience where multiple sub-stages were set up. The opening of Act 3 was particularly symbolic, as the lights started dim when the town didn't know how to respond to the coming magistrates and then were fully bright when the town had finally settled on resistance. Costumes, designed by Kathleen Daley, created a sense of both ambiguity and unity. Because J.E.B. Stuart is a school with a high Spanish and Muslim population, the costumes were meant to be representative of many different cultures, not just one. Although simplistic, the costumes served their purpose and helped to create a multi-cultured town.

Overall, J.E.B. Stuart's production of Fuente Ovejura was strong. Although some actors rushed through lines and displayed a lack of understanding of the text, the majority tackled the almost 400 year old script with poise and vigor. Even though some props seemed out of place, the technical side of the show as a whole was commendable. All in all, J.E.B. Stuart proved that standing up for what is right is worth the risk.

Elena Schwam
Walt Whitman High School
Submitted for publication to Falls Church News Press

Few schools can take a dark show on tyranny and the power of the people and seamlessly weave in comedy, but J.E.B. Stuart High School does just this in their production of the seventeenth-century play "Fuente Ovejuna."

Lope de Vega's "Fuente Ovejuna," originally published in 1619 and translated by Laurence Boswell, is based on the true story of a small Spanish town which bands together to dispose of its nefarious commander. They declare themselves loyal to only the King and Queen and subsequently refuse to admit to which townsperson murdered the Commander, only responding (even under duress), "Fuente Ovejuna did it." The show is dark, yet infused with the light of revolutionary hope, and presents convoluted moral questions through the eyes of the seemingly simple citizens.

To expand the acting space and bring the audience into the action, the Stuart crew built platforms house left and right, and just in front of the light booth. Screens cleverly silhouetted various shapes, including birds and gears, to highlight a multitude of settings without making any major set piece changes.

Ali Cheraghpour personified the vile Commander de Guzman with every gruff word and sinister step. Cheraghpour exuded military confidence and never once broke character, abusing and abducting the women of the town seemingly without conscience. Solome Mesfin played Laurencia, the strong-headed girl content to lead a simple life free of bothersome men–until she falls in love with Frondoso, that is. Mesfin excelled as Laurencia, engaging the audience with every witticism. She remained confident and playful throughout, reacting to every plot twist and movement with her own hilarious response. Later in the show, Mesfin inspired with a cutting lecture rebuking the townspeople for not coming to her aid when the Commander kidnaps her (on her wedding day, at that). She later leads the ladies of Fuente Ovejuna against the villainy of the Commander, armed with shovels and ready to reclaim their honor.

Marco Rojas brought warmth and genuine resolve to Frondroso, Laurencia's husband who defends her from the Commander and risks his own life in the process. Rojas added hilarity as he responded to one of the Commander's sneering remark with, "Peasant yes. Dog no," earning peals of laughter. Hillary Leersnyder was an unexpectedly brilliant Flores, the second-in-command in the Order of Calatrava. Flores has no qualms about hurting women, and is a truly vicious character hellbent on pleasing de Guzman and retaining power. Leersnyder convincingly coughed and spluttered as the wounded Flores, relaying the news about the town to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella (Aria Nawab and Sarah Rubin) during an exceedingly difficult and well-executed address. Marley Finley wowed as Jacinta, frightening the audience with her screams as she was raped and abducted.

Despite the play's harrowing themes, it is a comedy, and witty characterization by an array of supporting characters gave spirit to the town. Abrahim Elzaiat plays Mengo, the chivalrous young man who is perhaps not the brightest bulb in the box. Elzaiat brings modern wit to Mengo's funnier bits even in the midst of violence. Mengo's friend, Barrildo, added lighthearted appeal as he sang a few numbers in the traditional Spanish.

While the leads brought nuance to Fuente Ovejuna, the force and passion of the townspeople drive the show, and in turn drive the town to murder. "Fuente Ovejuna" reminds of both "Lord of the Flies" and "Les Misérables"–the inhabitants are just, yet cruel as well. The show, supported by the genuine harmony of the small town, poses questions that will make you question your own honor.

Elizabeth Morton
Stone Bridge High School
Submitted for publication to Patch.com - Fairfax

"Fuente Ovejuna. Fuente Ovejuna lo hizo!" rings through the auditorium of J.E.B. Stuart High School. A group of determined villagers stand strongly on the stage. Here in Fuente Ovejuna, the battle has only just begun. After revolting and killing their leader, the Commander, they swear solidarity. When royal magistrates come to investigate and arrest the killer, the people refuse to surrender a single name.  When questioned and tortured, every townsperson responds the same way: "Fuente Ovejuna! Fuente Ovejuna did it!"

Fuente Ovejuna centers on the defiant Laurencia (Solome Mesfin) and the tyrannical Commander (Ali Cheraghpour). The Commander continuously makes advances on Laurencia, only to be rejected every time. With the help of his lieutenant, Flores (Hillary Leersnyder), the Commander arrests and beats Laurencia and her fiancé, Frondoso (Marco Rojas). Both lovers eventually escape and form the resistance that overthrows the corrupt Commander.

The renowned Spanish playwright, Lope de Vega, wrote Fuente Ovejuna during the Golden Age of Spanish drama. He wrote thousands of plays throughout his life, and this is one of the few that has survived in the modern canon. The most recent translation was performed at the 2008 Stratford Shakespeare Festival, receiving many positive reviews. Like most of de Vega's plays, Fuente Ovejuna is a comedy with a strong moral backbone. 

J.E.B. Stuart's Fuente Ovejuna was unique, especially for a high school production. Instead of adhering to the traditional Spanish setting, the cast and crew decided to create an entirely new world to perform their play in. Utilizing the diverse heritage of the students at Stuart, they created their very own place. The ambiguous setting used Muslim, Hispanic, African, Thai, and Greek elements. The costumes were carefully selected to reflect these cultures as well as the personality of the characters wearing them. A hand-crafted set full of levels and slopes produced great, varied stage pictures and kept the show interesting. The technical work for this show matched the tone of the piece extremely well. With their wide variety of student designed pieces, Stuart High School transported the audience to a place unlike any other.

Mesfin portrayed Laurencia with skill, excelling at carrying scenes both lighthearted and dramatic. As she relayed her experience of her traumatic arrest and roused her fellow townspeople to action, Mesfin maintained an intense emotional realism. While some actors had trouble understanding their complex lines, Mesfin was constantly aware of the meaning of her words. Another strong actress was Leersnyder as Flores, a traditionally male role. Like Mesfin, she portrayed trauma well as she recounted the rebellion and urged King Ferdinand to reprimand Fuente Ovejuna. Although the comic moments of Fuente Ovejuna are outdated, characters like Mengo (Abrahim Elzaiat) attacked the comedic scenes with bravado and determination. Elzaiat kept the audience laughing, even at the most inappropriate times. Despite the occasionally jarring juxtaposition of the antiquated comedy and intense, serious scenes, the cast of J.E.B. Stuart High School worked had to find a pleasant balance between the two.
At its very core, this Golden Age play is about a sense of unity, about a community that refused to fall apart. The students of J.E.B. Stuart High School used its own inherent sense of togetherness to convey this theme. In a world of their creation, made up of their own cultural influences and experiences, the cast and crew showed the audience what it really means to be a community.

Sophia Buono
Oakcrest School
Submitted for publication to Connection

As the audience filed into the theater, they beheld stoically marching soldiers, giggling maidens, and smiling shepherds roaming the aisles. This interactive prologue soon led into J.E.B. Stuart High School's zesty comedic drama, Fuente Ovejuna.

Originally set in 1476, Fuente Ovejuna tells the story of a village that falls victim to the oppressive rule of Commander Fernán Gómez de Guzmán, who yearns to oust King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain. Playwright Lope de Vega wrote the play between 1612 and 1614, basing the plot off of real events. JEB Stuart's cast energized the whole theater as they brought their acting skills to the stage, aisles, and various platforms. With passionately dramatic scenes and moments of comic relief, the production combated several challenges and stirred emotions of both sorrow and delight among the crowd.

Several actors gave extra support to the show, as they mastered their characters and constantly maintained energy. The Commander (Ali Cheraghpour), for instance, used his powerful voice and committed movements to build up the personality of a harsh, lecherous man who utterly disregards his townspeople's dignity. Cheraghpour's diction and flowing intonation made his complex lines crystal clear, marking him as one who thoroughly understood every word he spoke. Laurencia (Solome Mesfin) also delivered with great poise and personality. Her reactions to the sudden changes in life around her, both joyous and tragic, made her a believable character in every moment, whether or not she was the center of attention. Frondoso (Marco Rojas), Laurencia's sweetheart, demonstrated youthful energy that complemented her independent spirit and also contrasted with the Commander's dark plots.

Other notable standouts included the Commander's assistant Flores (Hillary Leersnyder), along with townspeople Jacinta (Marley Finley) and Mengo (Abrahim Elzaiat). Leersnyder's emotional control made her an authoritative yet supportive character that drew attention. This was especially well displayed during her long, challenging monologue before the Spanish monarchs, bent over with a wound and coughing up a painful message. Finley took advantage of her shorter stage time with great passion, wholeheartedly shouting and struggling as she attempted to flee from the abusive Commander and his men. Elzaiat provided a refreshing amount of comic relief to the show with his spontaneous jokes, helping the rest of the cast to bring out the more lighthearted side of the play. Although comedic timing sometimes fell short, affecting flow, the cast's strong stage presence supported the show firmly.

Lighting added depth to the performance as well; for instance, upon the Commander's arrival in Act III, a reddish backdrop suddenly created a mood of fear and hatred. In addition, the unique setup of the set brought the audience into the world of the play. Cast members used platforms in the sides and back of the theater, and their ability to project compensated for the lack of microphones very well. Despite some ambiguity in time period that made costumes seem to clash a bit, overall the technical aspects of the show contributed to its success.

With committed, enthusiastic acting and on-point technical support, J.E.B. Stuart's Fuente Ovejuna overcame small obstacles gracefully and presented a thoroughly intriguing, pleasing performance.

Elli Esher
Teens and Theatre Company
Submitted for publication to Fairfax County Times

Bright lights, a colorful set, actors in creative costumes bustling to and fro among the audience, singing to a wooden goat. Such was the beginning of J.E.B. Stuart High School's intriguing production of Fuente Ovejuna. With enthused dramatics, charming comedy and an interesting blend of time and culture, it was clear that thespians on stage had grasped one of theatre's most key components: they had fun.

Written by the renowned Spanish playwright Lope de Vega in c. 1613, Fuente Ovejuna tells of a town that becomes smeared with the stains of blood and murder when they assassinate the commander sent to rule them. However, this assassination takes place only because of the vile way he has treated the town's villagers, and therefore, even under the pain of torture, the town agrees to say only the name of their town, Fuente Ovejuna, when asked who committed the crime, as they will leave no villager to die on his own. Even with this dark storyline, the play is written as a comedy, deriving endless humor from the habits and sayings of the villagers while still firmly planted upon the backbone themes of fear, honor, and love.

As one reflects upon J.E.B. Stuart's performance, one word immediately jumps out: ambitious. The mix of comedy in the face of tragedy, of Spanish and Arab cultures, of the 15th and 21st centuries, and even the intermingling of actors and audience members all poured into one melting pot performance truly stood out as a task only for the brave townspeople of Fuente Ovejuna. Yet while ambitious, this melting pot aspect truly developed into the anchor of the play. Audience members were forced to forget their preconceptions and thus became free to fully sink into the performance; ready for the many surprises J.E.B. Stuart was so eager to present.

Another of the play's anchors was their lead actress. Laurencia (Solomé Mesfin), a quick-witted woman whose honor is taken after she is raped by the town's commander (Ali Cheraghpour), captured the hearts of audience members from her first scene as a young maid discovering the meaning of love to a bloodthirsty leader in desperate lust for revenge. From love to marriage, despair to murder, Laurencia maintained a connection with the audience, while also sustaining a fascinating spark of fun in her expressions.

The darker shadow of this play was chillingly cast by Flores (Hillary Leersnyder), a soldier, as she raced to the throne room of Spain's King and Queen to report the commander's murder, and by Jacinta (Marley Finley), as she was dragged to the horrors of the commanders palace. Each displayed a courageous understanding of the terrors their characters faced, seeming to hold back nothing as they screamed and gagged their way into audience nightmares. In contrast, Mengo (Abrahim Elzaiat), consistently lifted spirits with his humorous one-liners, displaying a enthusiasm for the spotlight that is always appreciated by audience members.

Even in the technicalities, J.E.B. Stuart showed an ambitious spirit. Lights were creatively used to portray emotion and costumes varied depicting an original mixture of Spanish and Arab cultures. The stage extended into the seats, providing an interesting experience of oneness between actor and audience.

Enthused dramatics, charming comedy, and an interesting blend of time and culture. Such was J.E.B. Stuart High School's intriguing production of Fuente Ovejuna. Presenting a melting pot of themes, cultures, ages and connections, this show was certainly a new experience made memorable by the thespians on stage who simply had fun.