Written by Pedro Calderón de la Barca in 1629, La dama duende (The phantom lady) is a “cloak and dagger” comedy. The plot, rich with twists, has as its main character a young and beautiful widow, Doña Angela, resolute in her decision to go against the customs of the time which wanted her living the life of a recluse for the recent loss of her husband.  Beyond the duties related to widowhood, there was also the fact that her late husband had left her penniless, if not in ruin, which condemned Angela to stay segregated in her home.
Having been snuck out of her home by her brothers Don Juan and Don Luis, she falls in love with Don Manuel, the gentleman who is injured in a duel as a result of saving her from danger. Of course, Don Manuel is a friend of Don Juan and Don Luis, who let him stay with them while he recovers. Taking advantage of the classic double-entrance wardrobe which divides her room from that of Manuel, she appears to him during the night, terrorising the servant Cosme... following endless misunderstandings, everything works out for the best, with numerous happy marriages.
“Between dream and reality, laughter and surprise - explains Helena Pimenta, director of the play and, since 2011, director of the Compañía Nacional de Teatro Clasico - the words of Calderón present us, once again, with situations concerning women, feelings, deception, freedom, exhilarating and yet very serious, daughters of our distant past, but which also refer to more recent times, if not our present. The humour helps us to not be afraid of facing these situations”. The play has a rich score which takes from Italian opera by Bellini, Donizetti, Rossini and Verdi.