Will you go above and beyond, across country lines and gender norms, to right the wrongs committed against a woman? 

“The Courage to Right a Woman’s Wrongs” by Ana Caro de Mallén is a comedy of wild intrigue and Shakespearean-like performance and theatrics. The play deals with Dona Leonor, played by Maria Vega, who crosses geographical and gender boundaries in order to bring her unfaithful lover, Don Juan, played by Javier Soto, to justice and restore her lost honor. Dressed as a man named Leonardo, she travels from Seville to Brussels, where she finds Don Juan and initiates her cunning plan for revenge by playing with his heartstrings and having him at the end of her sword. 

The play is comedic with its delivery, dialogue, and slapstick that will have you laughing throughout the night. And plenty of jokes surrounding romance that will tug at your heartstrings and tickle your funny bone.

Tomillo, played by Matthew Penner, and Ribete, played by Sebastian Richardson, are the most comedic out of the cast. Ribete constantly comments and criticizes the characters’ actions, especially Leonardo’s. Tomillo reminds me of an old Ash Williams, with constant slapsticks and rude behavior of drunkenness and sexual innuendo. 

While the play is comedic with actions and characters, the dialogue can be confusing and become hard for audiences to keep up with which character is speaking and dialogue if they are not highly fixated on the actions occurring on stage. 

However, that should not negate the killer performances of the actors. Maria Vega gives a spectacular performance as Leonardo, expressing the emotions and struggles of seeking vengeance and having a dual alter ego as Dona Leonora. Her unbridled emotions against Don Juan and the distressful emotions she feels over the situations she ends up in are expressed in her performance and vocal delivery. Her performance gives goosebumps to the audience. 

The play had a fantastic set design with sound and lighting to give atmosphere and action to sword fights. Perfect use of space on stage with two builds on set to express the mountainous range of Brussels and the castle. The play excellently transitions between scenes using music, lighting, and comedic acts to express the next scene. 

The play has an enjoyable satire of male actions and romances, with Dona Leonor critiquing Don Juan actions and how most male characters come off as clowns or comedic acts during romantic situations. 

Interested in the relationship between Dona Leonora and Estela, a sort of queer relationship with a woman disguised as a man having a romantic relationship with a woman. It felt very fitting while the school is still in the midst of “OUTober” month. 

“The Courage to Right a Woman’s Wrongs” is a passionate classical play. Although some of the words may fly over audiences’ heads, the emotions and feelings of the cast and their performance will touch your very soul and have you laughing out of your seat. What it takes to right a woman’s wrongs is a little bit of sword fighting, cross-dressing, and a lot of comedy.