photo Wojtek Szabelski/freepress.pl
Director Iwona Kempa revives a rarely staged play by the spiritual leader of Young Poland bohemians - Stanisław Przybyszewski
Stanisław Przybyszewski's Gody Życia" / "Nuptials of Life dates back to 1910. It tells the story of a young woman who abandons her husband and daughter to live with her lover. Under the law of that time and the standing social norms, she would lose all legal rights to her child. Unaware of the consequences of her act, the main character (starring Mirosława Sobik) is in a lot of pain. The longing for her child and the feeling of guilt are slowly destroying her relationship with her lover.
Iwona Kempa says that Przybyszewski is mainly remembered today as a controversial figure who disregards the moral taboo, "but he is forgotten as an artist and thinker - prose writer, essayist, playwright and art theoretician".
The plot of the play serves merely as a pretext for analysis of the main characters' state of mind, their violent passion, the struggle with the social patterns, but also the inner demons.
Iwona Kempa asks:
Can conscience destroy the feeling of happiness? Can one be happy while hurting others? Can one sacrifice his or her personal happiness and live with an unloved spouse in a lie? Should stepping over the traditional order be severly punished? Przybyszewski's play raises questions that remain timely through the years.
The Nuptials of Life is presented to audiences as a part of the "Arch-Polish Season" series, which celebrates the 90th anniversary of the Toruń Theatre's existence.
Gody Życia" / "The Nuptials of Life, based on the text by
Stanisław Przybyszewski. Text adaptation, set design, direction: Iwona Kempa, costumes: Anna Sekuła, music: Bartosz Chajdecki; cast: Małgorzata Abramowicz, Aleksandra Bednarz (guest appearance), Ewa Pietras, Karina Przybylska, Anna Romanowicz-Kozanecka, Mirosława Sobik, Jolanta Teska, Jarosław Felczykowski, Sławomir Maciejewski, Tomasz Mycan, Paweł Tchórzelski
Premiere: March 26, 2011. Repeat performances: April 1-3, 2011.
Wilam Horzyca Theatre in Toruń
Plac Teatralny 1, 87-100 Toruń
tel. (+48 56) 622 50 21, 622 52 22, 622 12 45
link*www.teatr.torun.pl*http://www.teatr.torun.pl****Source: press release