Preview of “Bakersfield Mist”

The 23^rd International Festival of Plays Pleasant and Unpleasant is in progress! On 20 May we presented first of our two previews. Our guests who visited the Powszechny Theatre Small Stage could see “Bakersfield Mist” – the play by Stephen Sachs directed by Justyna Celeda. Thank you for that night! 

The play is inspired by true events. It tells about the meeting of two people who differ in everything – from social status to education to their attitude towards reality. The reason of the meeting? A picture Maud Gutman, an unemployed bartender, bought in a thrift store. She paid 3 dollars for it but hopes it may be worth millions. Why? Because she believes it is an undiscovered Jackson Pollock.

After the spectacle there was a meeting with its creators. The meeting was moderated by Łukasz Drewniak. Ms Justyna Celeda pointed out that there were two themes that interested her most in the play – a fight for human dignity and a search for the truth. For Maude who lives in a trailer park the picture she bought has been the symbol of her fight for her value. She does not want to authenticate the painting just for the money, it is the idea of the “truth” she is most interested in. According to the spectacle creators a debatable status of a piece of art is also an interesting theme of the play. What is art nowadays? Do we need it? What (or who) decides about its value? Is it still possible to understand art simply just as art?

“Bakersfield Mist” will be presented on our Small Stage in May and in June. And on 24 June we invite you to another Powszechny Theatre preview during this edition of the Festival. This time it will be “Dryl” – the play by Wojciech Bruszewski, directed by Marta Streker. See you then!

Stephen Sachs

“Bakersfield Mist”

Translated by: Bogusława Plisz-Góral

Directed by: Justyna Celeda

Stage design: Grzegorz Małecki

Cast: Milena Lisiecka, Jakub Kotyński

Photo Kasia Chmura-Cegiełowska