Calderón's 'El Escondido y la Tapada' Revived: Intrigue and Comedy at the Teatro de la Comedia

The play 'El escondido y la tapada', written by Pedro Calderón de la Barca in 1636, returns to the stage of the Teatro de la Comedia. The staging is by the Joven Compañía Nacional de Teatro Clásico, which seeks to highlight the games of appearance, identity and intrigue characteristic of the Golden Age. This production, heir to works such as 'La dama duende', focuses on the visual and symbolic character of the Calderonian text. The domestic space becomes a reflection of a labyrinthine Madrid, full of secrets and picaresque.

Director Beatriz Argüello points out that the play keeps the audience in constant fun, exploring the boundaries between the visible and the hidden. The scenography by Alessio Meloni and the costumes by Ikerne Giménez become key elements of the production. The choreography by Andoni Larrabeiti energizes the action, making the cast work at a vertiginous pace.

The plot begins with the arrival of César in Madrid, fleeing after a settling of accounts. Celia, a woman courted by him, offers him refuge, triggering a series of entanglements with the appearance of Félix, Celia's brother, and Lisarda, the dead man's sister and also sought after by César. The director, Beatriz Argüello, highlights the impossibility of the characters to achieve their objectives, which keeps the function in suspense.

The adaptation of the play lightens Calderón's original text, introducing a more agile rhythm in the dialogues and respecting its structure. The version incorporates contemporary winks, connecting both eras with references to the price of rents and criticisms of political corruption.

The seventh promotion of the Joven Compañía Nacional de Teatro Clásico, made up of twelve performers between 18 and 30 years old, debuts with this production. The selection of the cast was an exhaustive process that brought together about 900 candidates. The cast is made up of Sam Arribas, Jordan Blasco, Luis Espacio, Laura Ferrer, Zoe da Fonte, Diego Garisa, Belén Landaluce, Julio Montañana Hidalgo, Gabriel de Mulder, Anna Nácher, Andrea Real and Andrea Santos. The play promises a vibrant theatrical experience full of surprises for the audience.

The play 'El escondido y la tapada' will be on stage at the Teatro de la Comedia until April 26, 2026. A meeting with the public was scheduled for Wednesday, April 1, in addition to two accessible performances on Friday, April 10 and Saturday, April 11. The staging promises a theatrical experience that combines the tradition of the Golden Age with a contemporary perspective, offering a reflection on the games of appearance and human entanglements.