El viejo celoso (The Jealous Old Man) by Miguel de Cervantes Premieres on October 20, 2025
with subtitles in English
After the premiere, the play will be available to watch on-demand.
During Winter Term 2025, we brought The Old Jealous Man to the stage and the screen through a creative collaboration between SPA336/436 and COM243. Under the direction of Dr. Alejandra Rodríguez Villar (dramatic direction) and Professor Elizabeth Allensworth Winters (film direction), students explored Cervantes's humor and insight in new ways. It was a joyful adventure, and we hope that same spirit reaches you as you watch our performance.
¡Que empiece la función!
Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra (1547-1616), known around the world as the author of Don Quixote de la Mancha, was not only a novelist but also one of the keenest comic dramatists of the Spanish Golden Age. His plays reveal a profound understanding of human behavior, where laughter becomes a vehicle for truth. Among his theatrical works, the entremeses, brief comic interludes performed between longer plays, capture the pulse of everyday life with an incomparable blend of humor, tenderness, and irony.
El viejo celoso (The Jealous Old Man) stands out as one of the sharpest and most mischievous of these short masterpieces. Beneath its lighthearted tone lies an incisive reflection on desire, power, and the confinement of women in early modern society. Cervantes transforms a domestic farce into a mirror of broader social anxieties: the fear of aging, the obsession with control, and the tragicomic futility of trying to possess love. The old man's jealousy, ridiculous and pitiful at once, reveals how insecurity and suspicion can corrode human relationships and turn affection into tyranny.
What makes El viejo celoso particularly fascinating today is its modernity. Its humor feels startlingly contemporary, its irony disarming. The play exposes mechanisms of control and deceit that remain visible in different forms in our own world. Cervantes, centuries before Freud, understood the fragile balance between repression and desire, between moral discourse and instinct. His laughter is not cruel, but it is unrelenting: it unmasks hypocrisy and reminds us that the attempt to master others often ends in our own undoing.
Directing this piece during Winter Term 2025, through the collaboration of SPA336/436 and COM243, has been a wonderful opportunity to rediscover Cervantes's wit from both a theatrical and cinematic perspective. Under the dramatic direction of Dr. Alejandra Juno Rodríguez Villar and the film direction of Professor Elizabeth Winters, our students immersed themselves in this small but dazzling world, bringing to life its humor, rhythm, and irony. The process was filled with laughter, reflection, and a renewed admiration for how Cervantes continues to speak to us across the centuries.
We hope that, as you watch our version of El viejo celoso, you can feel the joy, energy, and curiosity that animated our work. Because every time Cervantes returns to the stage, he holds up a mirror--not only to his time, but to ours.
¡A disfrutar del espectáculo!
|
Dr. Alejandra Juno Rodríguez-Villar comes from the world of theater, particularly Golden Age Spanish Theater in Spain. Her love for these wonderful texts is so passionate, that she decided to pursue a Ph.D. to further learn about them. Now, at Hanover College, as an associate professor of Spanish in the Modern Languages Department, she divides her time applying the cognitive sciences to research these plays and directing them, both things extremely fun and rewarding. Contact: rodriguezvillar@hanover.edu |
 |
 |
Professor Elizabeth Winters is General Manager of the HCTV and a member of the Hanover Communication Department in charge of video production and broadcast journalism courses. Prior to coming to Hanover College, she worked for eight years as a documentary producer for Florida Public Television and then as senior producer of the Florida Crossroads documentary series and news director at the Florida Channel. Her awards include The Florida Bar Awards Grand Prize for Television for "Alarmed and Dangerous," a Wolfson Media Center Film and Video Awards Honorable mention for "The Changing Face of AIDS" and a Sunshine State Video 2nd Place Award for "Below the Surface." Her award-winning freelance productions include a campaign video for Jennings County United Way and exercise videos for HealthMPowers. Recently, she has produced a variety of magazine, news and documentary programs for the college cable channel and regional broadcast and cable stations, including In the Footsteps of Newton, which was screened at the Utopia Film Festival and Mathfest, For Our Country: The Story of the Jefferson Proving Ground and Faith in Friendship, a documentary about the Ulster Project peace and reconciliation program in Northern Ireland. contact: winters@hanover.edu |
What Students Are Saying About Their Experience
|
Performing in The Jealous Old Man by Miguel de Cervantes was such a unique and rewarding experience. Acting was a huge step outside of my comfort zone, but the countless hours and support offered by both Professor Rodriguez Villar and my castmates pushed me to be the best I could be. I developed stronger confidence, collaboration, and communication skills, learning how to respond to others on stage while taking on an entirely new persona. The play's mix of humor and social commentary also furthered my appreciation for the masterful work of Cervantes. I thank Professor Rodriguez Villar, the Communication Department, and my fellow castmates for making this a wonderful experience. Drew Hack '26 (Compadre, Bailiff) |
|
|
I am incredible grateful to be a part in recreating a Cervantes play. Being a student-athlete, this experience truly encapsulated for me what dedicating and passion towards something to do. I could have never done this without the help and support of my classmates and my professor. Professor Alejandra Rodriguez Villar's expertise and guidance were instrumental in our growth as students and performers. I highly recommend this class to anyone seeking a profound understanding of Cervantes' plays and the joy of bringing them to life on stage or on screen.
Jack Woodard '26
(Cañizares)
|
|
|
Acting in The Old Jealous Man by Cervantes was certainly a wonderful experience. When I was presented with the opportunity to act in this play, I took it up knowing that it would be an awesome way to finish out my Hanover College experience. I want to hone in on the pronunciation help that the play gave me, while doing so in a fun and easygoing way. Don't take it expecting it to just be another class, that's for sure! The class is certainly what you put into it. But, seeing the full collaborated effort definitely gives a sense of accomplishment. I want to express gratitude to the entirety of the Spanish Department for the opportunity and wish all who are even slightly interested to just try it out if you get the chance. You won't be disappointed! Jacob Herald '25 (Gallant, Musician) |
|
|
|
Acting in El viejo celoso was a fantastic way to conclude my Spanish minor at Hanover. When Profesora Rodriguez Villar first told us that we were doing a play, I was a little surprised. Acting in another language seemed daunting to me and the play was written in 17th century Spanish. I never had acted before this, let alone in another language! Nevertheless, the play ended up being so humorous and entertaining. Through rigorous practice with my classmates and Profesora Rodriguez Villar, I was able to exponentially improve my Spanish pronunciation and skills. I went into El viejo celoso being unsure of my Spanish speaking abilities, but through practice and guidance, I can attest that the play improved my speaking ability and confidence tenfold. I would like to thank Profesora Rodriguez Villar, the Hanover College Communication students, my classmates, and Professor Winters for all of their efforts that went into this play. I also would like to thank Profesora Zullo at Hanover and additionally my Spanish teachers in high school. If you want to significantly improve your Spanish speaking and have a great time in a class, I encourage you to consider taking this class!
Elizabeth Wahlman '25
(Cristina)
|
|
Being a part of the production of Cervantes' El Viejo Celoso was an amazing experience. It was exciting to be able to act and embody a new character, especially since I had never done anything comparable to this before. I enjoyed the artistic outlet and a new way of applying my Spanish major. Learning about the intricacies of Cervantes' social commentary was eye opening and understanding more about how theater has historically been used to advance society was very interesting. Participating in this class has also led me to pursue an internship with Dragoncillo, a theater company dedicated to creative and bilingual storytelling. I'm extremely appreciative of Profesora Rodriguez, the Communication Department, and my castmates who made it enjoyable from start to finish! Jennavee Houser '26 (Señora Hortigosa) |
|
|
|
It is a great honor to have participated in another film with the Hanover College Spanish Department. "El Viejo Celoso" is a fantastic comedy; it was a lot of fun to bring Cervantes' magic to life. I express my gratitude to the Spanish and Communication departments for their dedication and collaboration, and to my wonderful castmates, who worked tirelessly to make the best film possible and encouraged me. I will forever cherish this experience as it was one of my final undergraduate projects and a part of my legacy to Hanover College.
Victoria Lowe '25
(Lorenza)
|