Arkadiusz Janiczek in a scene from "Actor", directed by Michael Zadara. Photo by Maciej Czerniewski and Stefan Okołowicz / National Theatre
Warsaw's National Theatre hosts a contemporary view on the Romantic play, highlighting the economic circumstances in a world of failing capitalism and financial crises
Cyprian Kamil Norwid (1821-1883) was one of the most accomplished Romantic poets and playwrights of his time, although he was overlooked in his lifetime and only recognised during the Young Poland revival of Romanticism. Considered a rather eccentric character, he dabbled in painting and tried his luck in New York before settling in Paris and making a name for himself in artistic and literary circles. His 1861 play "Actor" differs in style and subject from his earlier works - it is more of an economic play than a romantic one and the Romantic poets weren't known to deal with economic troubles in their works. It has rarely been staged as its lack of any major climactic events other than the initial fall of a financier who has fallen from grace into bankruptcy makes it unwieldy on the stage. And yet the transition from wealth to penury and up into the art of drama is indeed a romantic ideal after all.
One of the financier's clients, a once well-off count, decides to pursue his dreams of becoming an actor. Michał Zadara directs the performance, having worked to transpose the words and intentions of the piece for contemporary audiences. Zadara explains that
Norwid is particularly complicated. Reading "Actor" is a challenge, let alone the performance. The difficulty lies in the language, which is obscure and ambiguous, and is among to the most demanding in Polish literature. Another difficulty is the ostentatious reluctance Norwid exhibits towards dramatic events - in the "Actor" no one dies, no one arrives, no one gets married. In general, there are no breakthroughs in the course of these lives. Norwid is rather naturalist among the romantic poets, drawing traces of human behavior in quite ordinary situations.
Norwid's play was inspired by the bankruptcies of the Parisian Jules Isaac Mires and Thurneyssen, who brought other down with him, including the Polish aristocrat and poet Zygmunt Krasiński. The character of the actor was based on the real-life persona of Bogumił Dawison.
"Actor", written by Kamil Cyprian Norwid
Directed by Michael Zadara, Art Direction: Robert Rumas; costumes: Julia Kornacka and the music is Strychalski Dominik, directing light: Arthur Sienicki, work on word: Grazyna Matyszkiewicz, are: Anna Chodakowska, Victoria Gorodeckaja, Aleksandra Justa , Patricia Soliman, Ewa Wisniewska, Mark Barbasiewicz, Bartholomew Bobrowski, Oskar Hamerski, Arkadiusz Janiczek, Waldemar Kownacki, Modest Rucinski, Matthew Rusin, Wojciech Solarz, Paul Tołwiński, Krzysztof Wakuliński and guest: Adam Molak, Simon Smith, Kamil He agreed, Przemyslaw Wyszynski.
The performance premieres at the National Theatre in Warsaw on the 4th of February, 2012 at 7:30 pm. Repeat performances take place on the 5th (7:30 pm) and 7th (6:30 pm)of February, 2012
National Theatre in Warsaw
Pl. Teatralny 3
Tel: (+48 22) 692 07 70, 692 07 72
www.narodowy.pl
Source: press release