The Lunatic Queen

Synopsis

At the turn of the sixteenth century the two most powerful people on the planet, Queen Isabella of Castile and King Ferdinand of Aragon are making plans to expand their empire. They are plundering the riches of the New World, removing all Jews and Moors from their territories and waging war on the infidels in the East. At home they seek to assert the dominance of Spain by marrying their daughters to various princes of Europe. One such daughter is Juana, a young woman full of both religion and passion. The only problem is that she is mad. But what has made her like this? Though set during the Golden Age of Spain, The Lunatic Queen is both brutal contemporary satire and classical revenge tragedy, as it tells the story of Juana's two servants who seek vengeance on the system which has victimised them.

Our Review:

2 March 2005

There seems to be a trend for all things Spanish Golden Age at the moment with Michael Grandage’s fantastic Don Carlos and the RSC’s Golden Age season both residing in London. The Lunatic Queen, currently playing at Riverside Studios, fits into this category too, being set in 16th century Spain and telling the story of King Ferdinand, Queen Isabella and their ‘unstable’ daughter Juana.

Torben Betts’ play is something of an anomaly. It aspires simultaneously to emulate and parody the style of a ‘Spanish Golden Age’ play whilst also satirising the current political situation. Betts’ aspirations are high, he wants to explore the nature of power, what it means to rule, and it’s no accident that the Monarchy of Spain create wars abroad to keep their subjects' attention away from the situation at home… remind you of anyone? He also takes on notions of education and birth in relation to behaviour and seems to suggest that people aren’t...

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