Life Is a Dream

Life Is a Dream (La vida es sueño)

    Alternative Title: Life's a Dream; Such Stuff as Dreams Are Made of

    Author: Pedro Calderón de la Barca

    First Performance: 1635, Madrid

    Published: 1636

    First English Translation: 1865

    Genre: Drama in 3 acts; Spanish verse

    Setting: The court of Poland, a nearby fortress, and the open country, c.15th c.

    Cast: 8m, 2f, extras

Basilio, King of Poland, has confined his son Segismundo to a tower, because he caused the death of his mother in childbirth and omens foretold that he would grow up to become a tyrant and overthrow his father. However, urged by his courtiers, the King relents and abandons his plan to make Duke Astolfo his heir by releasing Segismundo and offering him the opportunity to rule the kingdom....

[The entire page is 388 words long]

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