In 1928 Lorca agreed with Rivas Cherif to the performance of the play, by the Caracol group that he directed, in the Rex theater in Madrid. The Primo de Rivera dictatorship banned the play as immoral and in May 1929, in the middle of rehearsal, the police broke into the hall. The premiere was scheduled for February 5, 1929. The death of Queen María Cristina caused the suspension of all performances. That same day the police seized all copies of the play, prohibited its performance and closed the theater.