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Synopsis
It is 1937. We are in Barcelona during the Spanish Civil War. Malcolm
Ridgeley is a hardboiled BBC journalist. Once an idealist, Ridgeley's
experiences have persuaded him that all good causes are inevitably
corrupted. His younger sister, Charlotte, and her husband, Chris
Fair, have no such reservations, however. They are fervent socialists
who belong to a militia defending the Spanish Republic against Franco
and the Fascist forces of Italy and Germany.
Ridgeley becomes the target of Yuri Chernovsky, a Soviet attache,
who hopes that by subverting Ridgeley he can use the BBC to bring
the Spanish government within the Soviet sphere of influence. Using
Ridgeley’s brother-in-law, Chris Fair, as a pawn, the nihilistic
Chernovsky destroys everything in which Ridgeley has faith -- his
relationship with Charlotte, his hope for the salvation of a young
orphan girl, and, finally, his own judgment, leaving Ridgeley intellectually
and emotionally broken and dependent.
Two years pass before we again meet Ridgeley. The war is nearly
over and he has returned to London to do a retrospective commentary
on his experiences in Spain. The Fascists have won, it is the eve
of World War II, and the cruelty and destruction Ridgeley has seen
in Spain have caused him to belatedly emerge from Chernovsky's influence.
Only then, as Europe faces the imminent conflagration, does Ridgeley
finally understand the need for conviction even in the face of uncertainty
and the corruptibility of ideals.
Characters
Casting requires 13 men and 2 women. Roles that can be doubled are
indicated by corresponding numbers.
- Newsreader - A BBC newsreader.
- Malcolm Ridgeley - A BBC correspondent, late
twenties. Bombastic and world-weary
- Christopher Fair - An idealistic socialist
and militia volunteer, mid twenties.
- Jo - A savvy 13-year old street urchin
- Studio Manager (5) - A self-important mid-level
manager.
- Yuri Chernovsky - Soviet emissary to the Republic.
Polished and opportunistic. Sixty.
- Sasha - Chernovsky’s young aide.
- Jaime (1) - An immature 15 year-old militia
volunteer.
- Juanito (2) - Another equally immature teenage
volunteer.
- Jim McCarthy - Militia volunteer of blue collar
Irish Liverpool stock. mid-twenties.
- Martin Calderon - A Spanish volunteerm
- Captain Kurz (3) - Croatian expatriate and
itinerant fighter for socialism. Late thirties.
- Charlotte Fair - Fair’s wife. Intelligent,
precocious, passionate.
- Café Owner (4) - A middle-aged saloon
keeper.
- Pascual - An illiterate peasant farmer.
- Captain Ruiz (4) - An officious captain in
the Guardia (the police).
- Martinez (3) - One of Ruiz’ men.
- Propagandist (Portillo)(1) - A roly-poly, less
than intimidating propaganda officer.
- Lt. Robles (5) - A young, self-righteous officer
in the regular army.
- Robles’ Man 1 - A regular army soldier.
- Robles’ Man 2 (2) - A regular army soldier.
Setting
Various locations in and around Barcelona, Spain. 1937. A fixed
set is not required. WINE TO BLOOD is played against a black background
using props and action to indicate location.
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WINE TO BLOOD Reviews
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Produced in November and December of 1999 at Oglebay Institute’s
Towngate Theatre