This
play written by Romanian Matei Visneic has an intriguing title.
Visneic's influences are Kafka and surrealist literature. Knowing this
will give an idea of the play's style.
The
play opens in an obvious way. A writer is sent to a mental institution
to instruct the inmates on the benefits of Communism. It is set in 1953
and Stalin is depicted as a god like figure. Stalin's drive to create
utopia is the high ideal that the writer puts across to the inmates.
As
the play progresses, we witness the delusion this creates and we begin
to wonder who is sane and mentally ill. After all, it was Stalin's
deluded logic that led to millions perishing in the drive to create the
perfect society. The humour in the play is the absurdity of the
situations that totalitarianism causes. Delusion becomes a normal way of
life.
The
acting, lighting and direction are of a high order. It is not an easy
play to follow at times, particularly towards the end because it does
become more fantastic and surreal.
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