Teatro selecto, tomo 3 de 4

Within this volume of selected works by the great Spanish dramatist, listeners will find a lively example of the “capa y espada” comedy, set on the outskirts of Ocaña. The play opens on a sun‑drenched field where two women, Marcela and Silvia, are on guard against the advances of a group of gentlemen, including the gallant Lisardo. Their banter sparkles with the poet’s characteristic metaphor and rhyme, turning a simple encounter into a verbal duel.

Lisardo, eager yet cautious, tries to persuade the women to reveal the secret identity of a mysterious lady who lives behind “two doors, badly kept.” The dialogue weaves compliments, riddles, and flirtatious challenges, hinting at hidden motives and the promise of romance. As the characters juggle honor, curiosity, and attraction, the first act sets a tone of witty intrigue that invites the listener to follow the unfolding courtship and the clever twists that typify Calderón’s masterful comedies.