„The Melodrama” at the 30th Festival

On Wednesday, 10 April 2024, at the 30th edition of International Festival of Plays Pleasant And Unpleasant we presented „The Melodrama”  directed by Anna Smolar. The spectacle produced by The Zygmunt Hübner Powszechny Theatre in Warsaw (which was shown on our Big Stage) – in a form of a melodrama – refers to „Pętla” („The Loop”), a story by Marek Hłasko. It tells about the presence of a woman – a supporting,  co-addicted character, a silent ladyfriend in the background, stuck in a certain imposed pattern. „The Melodrama” puts important questions on patriarchal system and its place in a modern world.       

During the meeting after the presentation (which was moderated by Aneta Kyzioł) its creators emphasized that it was one of the most important functions of the spectacle to show the great burden carried by the co-addicted persons. The problem of co-addiction touches all those who experience direct consequences of addiction of other people (among others alcoholics, drug users, workaholics, sexaholics) – the all live in a loop of unhealthy habits and they are not able to get out of it. The spectacle may help to realize that there is no shame in admitting that you are addicted. It is not a therapy but it may have a therapeutic function.           

As the creators said, the spectacle as well the script were realized as a result of improvisations at rehearsals. Movement and choreography play an important role – the viewers noticved during the discussion. They also recalled the goal of the director – she had said she did not want to produce a „difficult, sad spectacle”, hence its ironical construction.

Thank you for being with us that evening!

 

The Zygmunt Hübner Powszechny Theatre in Warsaw
Anna Smolar
“The Melodrama”
Scenario: Anna Smolar
Directed by Anna Smolar
Poems: Natalia Fiedorczuk
Monologues and dialogues: Karolina Adamczyk, Michał Czachor, Anna Ilczuk, Andrzej Kłak, Anna Smolar, Julian Świeżewski
Stage design and costumes: Anna Met
Choreography: Karolina Kraczkowska
Music: Enchanted Hunters (Magdalena Gajdzica, Małgorzata Penkalla)
Lights: Monika Stolarska
Assistant to the director: Marta Szlasa-Rokicka
Assistant to stage designer: Zofia Ratasiewicz
Cast: Karolina Adamczyk, Michał Czachor, Anna Ilczuk, Andrzej Kłak, Karolina Kraczkowska, Julian Świeżewski

 

Photos Patrycja Piwowarska