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Fernando Play

Fernando Play

Venue:  Theater at Catholic High School or University.

Curtain opens.  NARRATOR addresses theater audience.

NARRATOR:  Understand we have students from Social Studies and Religion
classes in the audience today. 

NARRATOR:  Good.  Then I shall begin with a question?  In the reconquest of
Spain.  Can you name the person or persons who drove the Moors out of Spain.

AUDIENCE: Chorus - Ferdinand & Isabella, 1492.  Any more questions. (Laughter)

NARRATOR: True. , but only one Kingdom--Granada.  Who drove the Moors out of
the vast majority of Spain 200 years before Ferdinand & Isabella?  Who recaptured almost all of Spain and several major cities including the 2 most important supposedly unconquerable Moorish strongholds Cordoba and Seville?  If you don't know, that's OK. Very few students or even teachers do.His name was Fernado, a youth of 18 years of age. He would be known as 
Fernando the 3rd. King of Castile.

A little background on this young Prince.  He was the son of King Alphonse of 
Leon and Dona Berenguera.   After Berenguera younger brother Enrique inherited 
the throne, died  at age 13.  He was succeeded by his sister Berengurera
She was proclaimed Queen of Castile.  When some Nobles opposed the Queen
(friends of Alvaro Nunez) Her Highness convoked a meeting of the Cortez and planned
a little surprise.  

NARRATOR EXITS. .  Curtain rises to laughter and chatter to reveal The CORTEZ.
A crowd of Knights and Nobles in conversation.   Archbishop Jiminez escorts 
Berenguera to a Throne Chair.  Jiminez call for silence in the court.  The Queen begins
her address to the assembly which will end in her abdication in favor of her son.
Though approved by the Cortes--there is likely to be some objections from Nobles
loyal to Alvaro Nunez.

Scene one

Knight, enters a different Castle room with the banner of Leon, says to 18 year old Fernando: 

Count Alvaro is invading Castile with plans to attack you Mother's castle. You and I must  leave immediately from your father’s castle because he is just a pawn in Alvaro's plan to rule Castile.

Fernando: 

Let's us ride like the wind so we can defend my mother. Alvaro because he has my uncle Enrique the king under his control thinks that he can destroy my mother. He will have to kill me first.

Fernando arriving at his mother's castle says to his mother and Archbishop Jimenez: 

I want nothing more than to defend you my mother. 

Berenguera: 

My son, your uncle is dead by a accident that has put in motion many things. Count Alvaro has convinced your father to war with us to make himself or your father king of Castile. Castile must act quickly as the armies of Alvaro and your father are invading. 

Archbishop Jimenez: 

Come Fernando, the Cortes and nobles are in assembly and they are going to crown your mother the queen of Castile.

Archbishop Jimenez approaches on the throne Berenqurea seated next to Fernando. He whispers to her and then the Archbishop joins the assembly. 

Dona Berenguera: 

I have an announcement to make to the Cortes. As you can see my son arrived from Leon. I would like you and him to hear what I have to say. 

Berenguera says in front of the assembly of nobles and clergy: 

I renounced the throne in favor of her son you must  proclaimed him king. I am grateful for the honor bestowed upon me this day. However, my reign as Queen will be short. Therefore let it be known with your consent and witness I intend to renounce my claim to the throne of Castile. 

A prolonged applause

In shock, Fernando says: 

What must do now that you have made me king at the age of 18?

Berengurera: 

You must pray to Our Lady and Our Lord and ask them what they want of you as king.

Fernando in church on his knees praying hears Christ say to him:

I want to make your whole life like a representation and marvelous parable so that the coming centuries may contemplate the war that I, Eternal King and Universal Lord, wage against the powers of darkness, to conquer the entire earth for my Father.   

You will be one of history’s most gifted and formidable warriors. You will spend your entire life in the service of God.

You will rescue your own country. By your chivalry, loyalty and generosity of character.

Scene 2

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