Dramaturgy of everyday life in Laura Papo Bohoreta’s writings

Abstract

This paper aims to analyse some dramatic and theatrical features of the Bosnian Sephardic author, Laura Papo Bohoreta (Sarajevo 1891-1942). Her wide dramatic and literary production was written in Judeo-Spanish between the two wars. In particular, the dramatic text Ožos mios, Pedazo de folklor sefardi de Bosna en tres actos (1931) and some of her short stories are considered. The strong narrative connotation of Laura Papo’s plays and the strong theatricality typical of her short stories are also discussed. It can be said that Laura Papo has dealt equally with both genres because her plays and her short stories alike reveal an ambiguous and adaptable nature. In fact, her stories can easily become plays that can be performed in the theatre, while at the same time her plays can turn into narratives. An epic of daily life also emerges in her plays. Laura Papo’s vision of women, the generation gap as a theme of her stories and plays and, finally, her relationship with the tradition are shown.