The maid magician in the comedia de magia of the eighteenth century, or about female set designers and pedagogues in the sun set of the old regime

Abstract

In the Spanish popular theatre of the eighteenth century, particularly in the «comedia de magia», authors as Juan Salvo y Vela, and above all, Nicolás González Martínez, claim the equality of women in society and stage. So they write characters that ocuppy a central and leading role in the plot and on the stage, and play artistic and intelectual professions reserved to men before, such as set designing and pedagogy. Nicolás González Martínez also offers a model of women relationship based on sisterhood, which will result in the confusion of the roles of the magician and the maid.