"The Tale Of The Master And Of Małgorzata" - photo from the rehearsal; photo by Tomasz Wójcik / Teatr Polski
Can manuscripts still thrive in the age of computers? Can love still fall upon us as suddenly as death, or night? Or can it arise merely from conversations on an online dating service? Do military leaders, like Stalin, telephone writers, in order to sound out their opinions?
Robert Talarczyk's show tries to tackle these very problems.
Taking its cue from questions about our concepts of freedom, creativity, love (and evil) is Michail Bułhakow's The Tale of the Master and of Małgorzata. The show is both a canvas and a pretext. One of the protagonists is even startled by scenic narration.
Whom does this concern today? asks Robert Talarczyk. This talking cat, stinking of kerosene, the idiotic master, or the pretentious Małgorzata... Where did the predatory claw get to, the smell of burning sulphur and the taste of forbidden fruit? It's since become a mere school book; a myth disseminated by a pensioner which has endured.
This production came about against this kind of archetypal treatment. Sławomir Miska takes on the role of 'Master', Wolanda is played by Kuba Abrahamowicz, Pilate is Robert Talarczyk, and Tomasz Lorek is Jesus. Guest actors include: Anna Iberszer as Małgorzata, Bartosz Obuchowicz as Homeless Man and Igor Šebo as Behemot.
- The Tale of the Master and of Małgorzata based on Master and Małgorzata by Michaił Bułhakow; translation: Irena Lewandowska, Witold Dąbrowski; adapted by: Robert Talarczyk, Michał Urban;direction: Robert Talarczyk; set design: Michał Urban; choreography: Katarzyna Aleksander-Kmieć; musical composition: Krzysztof Maciejowski; lighting design: Małgorzata Baj; starring: Grażyna Bułka, Magdalena Gera, Anna Iberszer, Sabina Łukawska, Katarzyna Zielonka, Zbigniew Abrahamowicz, Piotr Bułka, Kazimierz Czapla, Tomasz Drabek, Janusz Legoń, Jakub Lewandowski, Tomasz Lorek, Łukasz Matuszek, Sławomir Miska, Adam Myrczek, Bartosz Obuchowicz, Artur Pierściński, Tomasz Pisarek, Rafał Sawicki, Igor Šebo, Grzegorz Sikora, Zdzisław Szwabowicz, Robert Talarczyk, Mateusz Znaniecki; premiere: January 15, 2011.
Teatr Polski in Bielsko-Biała
ul. 1 Maja 1, 43-300 Bielsko-Biała
General and Artistic Director: Robert Talarczyk
tel. (+48 33) 822 84 51, 822 84 51
www.teatr.bielsko.biala.pl
Source: press release,
www.teatr.bielsko.biala.pl