History of Western Theatre: 17th Century to Now/Latin American Post-WWII

Notable examples of playwriting expertise from Mexico include "El cuadrante de la Soledad" (Solitude Street, 1950) by José Revueltas (1914-1976) and "Ante varias esfinges" (Before some types of sphinx, 1956) by Jorge Ibargüengoitia (1928-1983).

"Solitude Street"

"Solitude Street". Time: 1940s. Place: Mexico.

Kity, a waitress at the Shanghai cafe, speaks on the phone to Eduardo, seeking to help her morphine addiction by sending her to a disintoxication clinic. Parches, a barrel-organ player, and his female-friend, Piedad, discuss the rumor that Ruperto, drug-dealing friend of Malena, proprietess of "Solitude Hotel", will be killed by Lopez. Piedad expresses the opinion that this act, from their viewpoint, will only be "changing fear", from fear of Ruperto to fear of Lopez. Enrique, a college professor, and Alicia, a student, ask for a room at the hotel. To avoid being ostracized by his colleagues, Eduardo saved Enrique's reputation by taking the blame when the couple were almost discovered by Prospero, director of the college. Alfonso, proprietor of the Shanghai cafe, of Chinese origin, pretends to help Kity's distress, but injects her with morphine. The cynical Alfonso observes: "We're all lost. The secret consists of losing one's self joyfully." Malena learns that Ruperto is involved in a shady deal with the police. There is a workers' strike, and, to blame the union leaders and to imprison them, the police plan to use Lopez as an incendiary of a warehouse. Malena tries to convince Columbina, an extravagant prostitute who has seen better days, to go to the hospital, but she declines. Evaristo, father to Alicia, meets his old friend, Prospero, to oust Eduardo and Enrique away from the city, he disapproving of her daughter's relations. Ruperto tells his old lover, Margara, that he is plotting the death of Lopez, her former husband, asking her to escape with him, but she refuses, planning instead to leave with Kid Pancho, also involved in the drug trade. Ruperto is playing a double game, since in addition to his deal with the police, he has a second one with the strikers, telling them that Kid Pancho is to set fire to the warehouse, whereby they should kill him. But to Ruperto's dismay, Malena announces the arrival of Kid Pancho, whom she knows is come to kill Ruperto by preventing his contact with Lopez, and so liable to be murdered by the police for double-crossing them. Lopez learned of Ruperto's betrayal from the strikers, as, unknown to Ruperto, he had deals with them himself. Ruperto is stuck, being prevented to leave by Kid Pancho. To help her love in dire straits, Malena proposes to set fire to the warehouse herself, which Ruperto agrees to. Columbina discovers the dead body of Eduardo, who has hanged himself for having sacrificed his career for the sake of Kity, whereby Kity blames her father and Prospero. An explosion is heard. The police rush in, telling Ruperto that everything went smoothly, a dead body, Lopez, it is presumed, being found on the premises. But Ruperto tells them that Lopez never showed up, the dead body likely being Malena's.

"Before some types of sphinx"

Place: Mexico City, Mexico. Time: 1954.

Marcos, a seventy-year-old grandfather, is dying, but his wife, Aurelia, assures him that the doctor said nothing is wrong with him. He does not believe it. Being unable even to see the hands on a clock, he recognizes at least he is growing blind. Suspecting death near, his sister, Beatriz, has asked Marta to come over and forget ten years of estrangement with their father. In dire straits after losing his job, his son, Alejandro, asks him for a loan. He agrees to give him a cheque the following day. Beatriz' son, Isidro, is dissatisfied concerning the adulterous relation with his brother's wife, Teresa. "You define me by my faults," he accuses her, but in his weakness still clings to her. Marcos greets his sister, Elena, by asking whether her husband still beats her, but he has been dead for eight years, he himself having bought the coffin. After hesitating a little, he agrees to see Marta, telling her they must talk the next day. Marta informs Beatriz that she would like to bring over to the family home her eldest daughter, to prevent her from becoming a poor village girl as a result of her father's laziness and stupidity. Beatriz agrees, but informs her in turn that other than the value of the house there is no money left. The next morning, Isidro arises dispirited: "Another day to sully?" he wonders. Beatriz warns Isidro and Teresa to be careful about not revealing too plainly the nature of their relation. Isidro admits to Carlos, back from working on his farm, that, although he has been a bad brother to him, he nevertheless loves him. Carlos is also depressed: "Every time I get up, I ask myself: "What will I do today?" I answer: "Wait for the day to pass."" Aurelia shows Elena dried-up bouquets of flowers she received from Marcos many years ago. Elena replies that the best night she has ever spent was when her husband threw her out of the house and she had to sleep in the garden: "The night was magnificent, full of stars," she remembers. Marta has received a telegram from her husband, informing her that he is vomiting blood. She wants to leave him, asking Beatriz for a loan to bring over her two daughters, but since her sister has no money, she asks her father instead, who accepts. Carlos and Teresa have nothing to say to each other. After her husband leaves, Alejandro flirts with her, but is rejected. His wife, Rosa, then informs him that Carlos insolently slapped her buttocks. Without warning Marcos dies. To save their marriage, Beatriz tries to convince Carlos to go off alone with his wife. Now that the money is lost, Rosa blames her husband for not requesting the loan sooner. Carlos tries to follow his mother's advice, but gives up. Beatriz now tries to get Isidro away, but he refuses. Instead, Carlos decides to go away at a vague destination. Marta also must leave, because her husband refuses to let her daughters go.