Dialogue from

THE BIRTHDAY OF THE INFANTA,
a tragedy by Stuart Walker

This play is based on a story by Oscar Wilde. Mr. Wilde wrote his story after seeing “The Birthday of the Infanta,” a very famous painting by Diego Valesquez. Valesquez was a Spanish painter. He painted the royal family of King Philip. This painting shows his daughter, the Infanta, her courtiers, the fantastic or little person, and her parents reflected in the mirror. You also see the painter! It is one of the most famous paintings in the western world.

The story that fascinated Mr. Wilde was the relationship between the Infanta and the Fantastic. The Fantastic was a little person who hadn’t grown big like ordinary people. In those days, the royals were very cruel to the little people. They treated them almost as if they weren’t human. They kept fantastics in court to make them laugh. They thought touching the hump on their deformed backs might give them good luck. Today, we wouldn’t allow such inhumanity to happen! But Oscar Wilde used this awful practice to help us see more about how humans can think and fail to feel.

Check out the painting at: http://www.artchive.com/artchive/V/velazquez/meninas.jpg.html click on the thumbnail sketch of “Las Meninas “(Maids of Honor) to see a larger version of the painting.

Another site that has a painting of a dwarf and of the infanta is at: http://www.newmusicclassics.com/birthday.html

This play is about the Infanta on her twelfth birthday. As we share the dialogue and stage directions with you, we ask some questions (written in blue) to help you understand the complexity of the characters and how the playwright has included character motivation (sub text, what the characters don’t say, but what is implied in what they say.)

Characters:

1. The Infanta of Spain: the daughter of the king
2. The Duchess of Albuquerque: the noble woman who
   oversees the training of the young princess
3. The Count of Tierra-Nueva: a cousin to the Infanta
4. The Chamberlain: the man who advises the king. He has
   compassion for others, especially children.
5. The Fantastic: a little boy with a hunched back, a very
   misshapen little creature, but with a bright face full of
   light and wonder
6. Attendant: a Moorish Page, a servant from Africa

Setting: (A dark room in the stone castle. There is an arch
to a balcony overlooking the gardens. The sky is blue. White roses cover the railing. There is a large mirror in the room. It is covered with a curtain.)

Time: in the 17th century

Infanta. I would be alone.

Duchess: Your Highness – (Why doesn’t she call the little
girl by her name?)

Infanta: I would be alone.

Duchess: (speaks to the servants) Her highness would be alone. (to the Infanta) This is unheard of.

Infanta: My birthday is rare enough to be almost unheard
of, your Grace of Albuquerque. I would be alone on my birthday – and I’m going to be alone! (to the servants)
You may go! . . .But wait, hold back the curtain. (They lift the curtain on the mirror.) Why do I not look so well in my own suite? See how wonderful this is here. Look at the gold in my hair. (The mirror is very important to the story and how it ends. Watch for what else happens in front of the mirror.)

Duchess: That is vanity, your Highness.

Infanta: Can I not admire myself on my birthday? Have I
so many birthdays that I must live them as I live every other day?

Duchess: What is wickedness on other days is also
wickedness on your birthday.

Infanta: (taking a white rose from the railing on the
balcony. Tries it in her hair and at her waist.) See – see – I like it here.

Duchess: (again to the servants) You may go.

Infanta. No, no – stay – draw the curtains across the
mirror!

Duchess: What will your father say?

Infanta: Draw the curtain across the mirror and hide me
from myself as those curtains hide my dead mother’s room! (They do so.) Now go! (They leave) (Mr. Wilde is obviously making up his own story because in the painting both of the Infanta’s parents are very much alive!)

Duchess: Your Highness, I am compelled to remonstrate
with you. What will his Majesty, your father say? (Why does she speak in such a stiff fashion?)

Infanta: My father will say nothing. He does not seem to
care. (Why do you suppose she says this?)

Duchess: Oh – Oh – Oh – (And why doesn’t the Duchess
have an answer?)

Infanta: And my uncle wishes that I were dead. . .No one
cares. I have to be a queen all the time, and I can never be a little girl like the little girl I saw in Valladolid. She just played. . .and no one corrected her every moment. (Who is her uncle? See if you can find out as you read.)

Duchess: You play with the finest dolls in the world.

Infanta: I do not have mud like hers!

Duchess: Mud!

Infanta: I’d like to smear my face!

Duchess: Oh!

Infanta: And I’d like to climb a tree!

Duchess: Oh, your Highness, you fill me with horror! You
forget that you are the daughter of a king! (How is the life of the Infanta different than an ordinary girl and how was life different 400 hundred years ago?)

Infanta: Well, it’s my birthday – and I’m tired of being a
wooden body.

Duchess: Such wickedness! I shall have to call the Grand
Inquisitor. There is a devil in you! (The Spanish Roman Catholic Inquisition questioned people who they thought were evil. They sometimes put people to death.)

Infanta: Call him! I’ll rumple my hair at him. (Why do you
think she isn’t afraid of the Grand Inquisitor?)

Duchess: He’ll forbid you to enjoy your birthday.

Infanta: What is it for my birthday – the same old story.

Duchess (mysteriously) Who knows?

Infanta: When I was ten, they had dancing in the garden,
but I could not go amongst the little girls. They played and I looked on.

Duchess: An Infanta of the house of Aragon must not play
with children. (How would it feel to not be able to play
with kids your own age?)

Infanta: And when I was eleven they had dancing in the
garden and a shaggy bear and some Barbary apes; but I could only sit here. I couldn’t touch the bear, even when he smiled at me. And when one of the apes climbed to this balustrade, you drew me away.

Duchess: Such animals are very dangerous, your Highness.

Infanta: I do not care. I do not want to be an Infanta.

Duchess: You are the daughter of Ferdinand, by grace of
God, King of Spain!

Infanta: Will my father come to me today? And will he
smile?

Duchess: This is all for you alone.

Infanta: Will not my sad father then come to me today? And will he not smile? (All of these gifts, but what is missing?)

Duchess: He will see you after the surprise.

Infanta: A surprise?

Duchess: Yes, your Highness.

Infanta: What is it?

Duchess: I cannot tell.

Infanta: If I guess?

Duchess: Perhaps.

Infanta: It’s hobby-horses!

Duchess: No.

Infanta: It’s an African juggler with two green and gold
snakes in a red basket.

Duchess: No.

Infanta: In a blue basket!

Duchess: No.

Infanta: Is it a sermon by the Grand Inquisitor?

Duchess: No.

Infanta: Is it something I’ve never seen before?

Duchess: Never in the palace.

Infanta: It’s a fantastic!

Duchess: Who knows?

Infanta: It’s a fantastic. It’s a fantastic! Where is my
cousin, the Count of Tierra-Nueva? I shall tell him that I am to be entertained on my birthday by a fantastic. And I shall let him come here to see it. (Notice that she calls the Fantastic “it,” not he or she.)

Infanta: Your Grace, inform the Chamberlain that I shall
have the fantastic dance for me here. The sun in the garden hurts my eyes. (Why do you suppose she doesn’t like the sun?) Besides, I want to touch his back. (Do we have a belief today that touching the hump on the back of a deformed person will bring luck? What does this say about the culture at the time of this play?)

(The Infanta leaves.)

Duchess: She has guessed. Tell the Chamberlain to send
the fantastic here.

Attendant: Her Grace, the Duchess of Albuquerque, bids
you enter. Inform the Chamberlain that her Highness, the Infanta, is ready for the dance.

(The fantastic, a little boy with a shock of black hair and a bright face, enters. He has a very crooked body and a hump on his back. He looks around at this place that is so strange to him. He puts his hand out to touch the black drape covering the mirror but the attendant stops him. The Chamberlain, a middle-aged man, with a kindly face enters.)

Chamberlain: Little grotesque, you are to see the King’s daughter!

Fantastic: Where is she?

Chamberlain: Come now, you must not be afraid.

Fantastic: I have never seen a king’s daughter.

Chamberlain: You must smile.

Fantastic: Is she very big – and all bright and shiny?

Chamberlain: Smile! You did not have such a long face
yesterday. That is why we bought you. (Watch for what else is said about buying the little boy – and about how he can be treated.)

Fantastic: Will she smile upon me?

Chamberlain: You must make her smile.

Fantastic: Will she beat me if I do not make her smile?

Chamberlain: You shall be beaten if you displease her. This
is her Highness’s birthday. And you are to dance for her to make her happy.

Fantastic: I have never danced for a king’s daughter before.

Chamberlain: You must dance bravely before her as you
danced when we found you in the woods yesterday.

Fantastic: I am afraid of the King’s daughter. I wish my
father had not sold me.

Chamberlain: Your father was very poor, and he wanted you
to make the Infanta happy.

Fantastic: My father did not care for me. If you had a son
would you sell him?

Chamberlain: No.

Fantastic: My father had seven sons.

Chamberlain: I had a little boy once.

Fantastic: And did you sell him?

Chamberlain: No. He went away. . .He died. (Why do you
think the playwright chose to have the Chamberlain’s son die? Think about this when you read the end of the play.)

Fantastic: Could he make the Infanta smile?

Chamberlain: I think he could.

Fantastic: Did he dance for her?

Chamberlain: No, he rode a hobby-horse in the mock bull fight.

Fantastic: What is a hobby-horse?

Chamberlain: It is a make-believe horse – like the stick that
you rode through the woods.

Fantastic: Can I ride a hobby-horse for the Infanta today?

Chamberlain: No. You’ll have to dance for her.

Fantastic: I think – I’m afraid.

Chamberlain: Afraid? You were not afraid of the woods.

Fantastic: They would not hurt me. I did not have to make
them smile.

Chamberlain: What will you do when you see the Infanta?

Fantastic: I don’t know. That man who dressed me up said I must smile and bow. My smile was very funny, he said, and my bow was funnier. I didn’t try to be funny.

Chamberlain: Some boys are funny even when they don’t
try to be.

Fantastic: I don’t feel funny. I just feel happy, and when I
am happy people laugh ... Did she smile upon your son when he rode the hobby-horse?

Chamberlain: She threw a rose to him. (Remember when
the Infanta took the white rose from the railing and put it at her waist? See when it appears in the story later and why it is very important.)

Fantastic: Do you think she’ll throw a rose to me? I like
roses ... Am I like your son?

Chamberlain: My son was tall.

Fantastic: I would be tall and strong, too; but I broke my
back, and my brothers say I am very crooked. . .I do not know. . .I am not as strong as they are, but I can dance and sometimes sing, too. . .I make up my songs as I go along. And they are good songs, too. I know, because I’ve heard them.

Chamberlain: How did you hear them, Senor Merry-Face?

Fantastic: Some one sang them back to me.

Chamberlain: A little girl, perhaps?

Fantastic: Some one. . .When I sang in the valley she would
mock me.

Chamberlain: Who was it?. . .Tell me.

Fantastic: It was Echo. She lives in the hills – and
sometimes she used to come into the woods when I was very still. I always wonder if Echo might not mock my face as she mocks my voice?

Chamberlain: Haven’t you ever seen yourself?

Fantastic: No, but I would like to. I always make people
happy when they look at me. They always laugh. Would I laugh if Echo mocked my face?

Chamberlain: I do not know.

Fantastic: Am I really happy looking?

Chamberlain: You are a fantastic.

Fantastic: That sounds happy.

Chamberlain: I hope it always will be.

Fantastic: Have you ever seen yourself?

Chamberlain: Yes.

Fantastic: Did your son see himself?

Chamberlain: Yes.

Fantastic: Where?

Chamberlain: In a mirror.

Fantastic: Is that Echo’s other name?

Chamberlain: Yes.

Fantastic: Can I see myself sometime?

Chamberlain: Yes.

Attendant: Her Royal Majesty, the Infanta of Spain!

Chamberlain: Go behind the door there. . .Wait. . .Be brave.
. . .Smile. . .And do not speak until you are asked to.

(The Infanta is followed by the Duchess and her cousin, the Count of Tierra-Nueva. She offers her hand. The Chamberlain bows and kisses her hand.)

Infanta: My lord Chamberlain, this is our royal birthday, and
in accord with the wish of our father, the King of Spain, we are to be entertained with some mirthful sport – and I know what it is. It’s a fantastic!

Chamberlain: Your Highness, the King, through me, desired
to surprise you with mirth this day.

Infanta: Is our royal father well? And does he smile today?

Chamberlain: His Majesty does not smile, your Highness. He
cannot smile in his great grief. (Why is her father grief stricken?)

Infanta: Let the surprise be brought to us. But I guessed
what it was!. . .It must be very ugly and very crooked and very, very funny to look at – or we shall be highly displeased.

(The Fantastic enters.)

Chamberlain: Here is the surprise, your Highness.

(She turns and sees him. The Fantastic tries a timid smile and an awkward bow. She claps her hands and laughs in sheer delight. The Fantastic looks desperately at the Chamberlain.)

Infanta: Go on. . .Isn’t he funny!

Chamberlain: Bow again and then begin to dance.

Fantastic: (joyfully) She is only a little girl, and I’ve made
her happy!

Chamberlain: What will you dance, Senor Merry-Face?

Fantastic: I’ll dance the one I made up and no one ever saw
or heard it except Echo. It’s the dance of the autumn leaf. I’ll show you what the autumn leaves do and I’ll tell you what they say.

Infanta: How do you know, you comic little beast?

Fantastic: I know because I live in the woods, up in the
hills, and I dance with the leaves – and I have two pet woodpidgeons.

Infanta: Where is the music?

Fantastic: I sing – it’s happier that way.

Infanta: Dance! Dance!

(The Fantastic bows.)

Infanta: I’ve never seen such a monstrous fantastic.
Count. We must touch his back before he goes – for good
luck.

(The Fantastic begins to sing and dance The Song of the Autumn Leaves. At the end he falls like a dead leaf to the floor. The Infanta is delighted.)

Infanta: I’m going to throw him a rose! See – like the
Court ladies.

(The Fantastic takes up the rose and bows absurdly.)
Duchess. Your Highness, you must prepare for your
birthday feast.

Infanta: Oh, let him dance again! The same dance!

Duchess: Think of the birthday feast, your Highness. Your
father, the King of Spain; your uncle, the Grand Inquisitor; the noble children. (Remember how the Infata was not afraid of the Grand Inquisitor? How is she related to him?)

Infanta: Once more!

Duchess: Your Highness, you must see the huge birthday
cake with your initials on it in painted sugar – and a silver
flag. . .

Infanta: Very well. He can dance again after my siesta. . .My cousin, I trust that you will see the next dance.

Count: I’ll ride a hobby-horse and he’ll be the bull. It will
be very funny with such a funny bull.

(They exit)

Chamberlain: Come!

Fantastic: I think she liked me.

Chamberlain: The Infanta of Spain is the daughter of the King of Spain. You have made her smile. Come!

(They go out. The Attendant opens the curtain on the mirror and preens before it. He looks at himself in the mirror several times as he leaves. The Fantastic enters furtively and looks about.)

Fantastic: I think I’ll ask her to come away with me when
I’ve finished my dance.

(He crosses to her door and listens. Then smiles and skips a step or two, then turns facing the mirror for the first time. He breaks into a smile, but first hides the rose hastily. He waves his hand.)

Fantastic: Good morrow!. . .You are very funny!. . .You are
very crooked!. . .Don’t look that way!. . .Why do you frown at me?. . .Can’t you talk?. . .You only move your lips. . . Oh, you funny little boy!

(He puts his hands on his sides and breaks into a great laugh.)

Fantastic: If you could see yourself, you’d laugh still more.

(He makes a mocking bow and breaks into shouts. He plays before the mirror.)

Fantastic: You mock me, you little beast!. . .Stop it! Speak
to me.. . . You make me afraid. . . .Like night in the forest.

(He runs forward and puts out his hand. He rubs his hand over the face of the mirror and the cold, hard surface mystifies him. He looks about the room. He sees everything repeated in the mirror.)

Fantastic: Echo! (He strains for an answer. He hides
behind a chair. He makes a plan.)

Fantastic: I know, miserable little monster. You shan’t
mock me. (He takes the rose from his coat.)

Fantastic: She gave me this rose. It is the only one in the
world.. . .she gave it to me – to me. (He emerges from behind the chair and holds out the rose. With a dry sob he sinks away and, fascinated, stares at the mirror. He compares the rose petal by petal, terror and rage rising in him. Suddenly he rushes to the mirror with a cry. He touches the glass again, then with a cry of despair he hurls himself sobbing on the floor.)

(The Infanta enters, followed by the Count. At the sight of the Fantastic she stops and breaks into a laugh.)

Infanta: His dancing was funny, but his acting is funnier
still. Indeed he is almost as good as the puppets. (What does this tell us about the Infanta’s attitude toward the Fantastic?)

(The Fantastic’s sobs grow fainter and fainter. He drags himself toward the door, trying to hide his face. Then with a sudden gasp he clutches his side and falls back across the step and lies quite still. The Infanta waits a moment.)

Infanta: That is capital; it would make even my father, the
King of Spain, smile. . .But now you must dance for me.

Count: Yes, you must get up and dance and then we’ll have
a bull fight and I’ll kill you.

(The Fantastic does not answer.)

Infanta (stamping her foot): My funny little fantastic is
sulking. You must wake him up and tell him to dance for me.

Count: You must dance, little monster, you must dance.
The Infanta of Spain, and the Indies wishes to be amused. (To the page) A whipping master should be sent for.

(The page goes out.)

Count: Let’s touch his back (as they touch his hump) and
make a wish.

Infanta: I wish he would dance.

(The Chamberlain and the Duchess enter.)

Duchess: Your Highness!

Infanta: Make him dance or I shall have him flogged.

(The Chamberlain rushes to the body, kneels and feels the heart. Then he sees the mirror and rises).

Chamberlain: Mi bella Princess, your funny little fantastic will
never dance again.

Infanta: (laughing) But why will he not dance again?

Chamberlain: Because his heart is broken.

Infanta: (thinks a moment, then frowns). For the future let
those who come to play with me have no hearts.

(All but the Chamberlain leave. He turns back and goes to the Fantastic. He takes up the little hand which clutches something precious. He opens the finger and the rose petals flutter to the floor. That is all.)

(Why did only the Chamberlain return to the little boy? Is there anything about the way the characters behaved in this story that we might see repeated in today’s world?)

      

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