Cuban Theater Digital Archive

Play script

Notes:

A fairy godmother grants three wishes to an eleven year old girl - she can do as she likes, no one can order her to do anything, she will never have to do as others would wish. Lolita's mother agrees that she can go into the forest to play but in the paradise of playing just as she likes Lolita comes to long for someone to tell her what to do. Lolita asks the fairy godmother, a tree and a poetical bear for advice before understanding is reached in time for her mother to find her in the forest. (http://www.mariairenefornes.com/Plays1970/lolitainthegarden.html)

The garden is where Humbert of Nabokov's "Lolita" first sees the object of his affections, Lolita. This play is from the point of view of the little girl, to whom the garden offers freedom. This archetypal image of innocence hints at sexuality and a desire for exploration. Fornes explores these themes in the play. Though the main character acquires freedom, she soon wants someone to tell her what to do. This is an allegory for the responsibility that true freedom demands of us.The garden also alludes to the temptation in the Garden of Eden. To explore this garden brings true knowledge. Only a little child or immaturity in ourselves would shirk responsibility, only to surrender freedom and knowledge with it.