Some pictures of Calderon's "Life is a Dream"
a spiritual allegory or "auto sacramental" written in 1677,
forty years after his famous court drama of the same title.
These photos feature the original cast, a remarkable
group of students from Marquette University.
The production included hauntingly beautiful music
by award winning composer Elizabeth Swados.
Bold text under each photo is from the script.
These are followed by press about the show.

"In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth,
the earth was a formless void."

Gordon Spencer of the Shepherd Express Metro wrote: "Black hooded figures
slowly assemble in a circle, bow to each other, and begin to mingle.
Gradually they come together in a dense, tight nucleus, ready to explode.
Thus begins director George Drance's fascinating, dynamic conception
of the beginning of life in Calderon de la Barca's
"Life is a Dream".

Power, who being eternally infinite
was able. . .
Wisdom, who knew from the beginning
to make it so. . .
Love, who, proceeding from these two,
also desired it."

The same reviewer writes: "The staging never ceases
to fascinate, enriched by remarkable talent for evoking highly skilled movement from student performers
and by Sally Duback's wonderful, colorful, array of puppets. They and the other fine production values
serve an unusual project, looking most like a lavish ritualized experience from centuries gone by."

"Since we four spheres were put in order,
under a precise meter and rhythm,
then come all with music and dance!"

". . .a play that encompassed the creation of the universe, the fall of Lucifer and his angels,
the creation and redemption of Man, the defeat of evil and the birth of human understanding--
with song, dance, and much-larger-than-life-sized puppets in a total theater extravaganza."
--Bill Cain, writer for theater and film