These are Tomás’s colleagues, who also share his living space.
Teasingly, as she departs, Berta promises to return later to prove to Tomás’s colleagues that she is, in fact, real.Īfter Berta leaves, Asel, Max, Tulio and Lino enter the room. Tomás, however, is more concerned that his colleagues have never met Berta: they are beginning to suspect that she does not exist. She criticises its shortcomings, such as the bad smell and the overcrowding. Surprisingly, given its generosity towards her, Berta is highly critical of The Foundation. Even though she lives in another part of The Foundation, she manages to sneak into the room and surprise Tomás while he sweeps. Here, he lives and works, as does his fiancée Berta. His writing career is being funded by the benevolence of The Foundation. The other man in the room, Tomás, sweeps the floor as he listens to the music. He is practically invisible underneath the covers with his back to the audience. As the play begins a sick Man lies in the bed. Sunlight streams into the room, and the mellifluous tones of the Pastoral Movementfrom Rossini’s William Tell Overture can be heard. A huge window looks out onto a picturesque landscape. This room starts off being nicely furnished, with a bed, bar, and a comfortable seating area.
La Fundación (The Foundation) is set entirely in one room. But does The Foundation really exist? Or is it a delusion, real only in Tomás’s head? If so, just where are these men? Synopsis This is The Foundation, a research institution where six men – Tomás, Asel, Lino, Tulio, Max and the sick Man – live and work. Through the window, the most spectacular view imaginable. Titles English title: The Foundation Notable variations on Spanish title: The Foundation: Fable in Two Parts Date written: from 1972 to 1973 First publication date: 1964 First production date: 15 January 1974 Keywords: morality > crime, morality > punishment, morality > justice-revenge, violence > social, violence > torture, violence > murder, violence > suicide, ideology > politics, power > use and abuse, love > friendship Genre and type: tragedy PitchĪ comfortable room, with a television, bar, tables, chairs and a welcoming bed.
La Fundación (1972-1973), Antonio Buero Vallejo