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Press
release Lazzi
present WITKACY
IDIOTA ‘Witkacy,
Witkacy, and once more Witkacy. He is such an interesting writer. He should have
a theater devoted to him, and we want to become such a theatre.’ WITKACY
IDIOTA
examines the bizarre life and controversial legacy of early
twentieth century surrealist painter, photographer and playwright Stanislaw
Ignacy Witkiewicz (1885-1939). Alternatively praised as a genius or derided as a
fraud, Witkacy, as he called himself, was a pioneer of the avant-garde. His work
predates that of major figures in the surrealist movement of the European
theatre such as Ionesco, Genet, Beckett, and Brecht and was a formative
inspiration to Kantor and Grotowski. An
intellect with myriad talents and interests, he was not immediately appreciated
in his own time. Some thought him interesting and innovative, but most
considered him a dilettante or even a fraud. Perhaps as a reaction he developed
himself into a flamboyant, fragmented and enigmatic personality, much like one
of the abstract characters in his plays. His eccentricities, and his arrogance,
became legendary. However, Witkacy’s contribution to world culture, Polish
culture, and the 20th Century surrealist avant-garde remains. This
performance project hopes to bring to the attention of Western audiences a truly
great but often neglected artist of the 20th Century. ‘Witkacy
was understood only by a few - maybe, because we were all still before,
while he was already after.’ Rather than perform one of Witkacy’s own
plays, Lazzi have created a collage of the man and his work, an autobiographical
sketching in the stylistic spirit of Witkacy himself. The life and work of
Witkacy are portrayed not in a linear or realistic way, but in the ‘absurd’
manner of an abstract painting. The piece explores, and attempts to play
Witkacy’s own concept of ‘pure form’. Discontinuities, parody, silliness,
and intensity. Images are extracted from his plays, particularly The Madman and the
Nun, in which a troubled poet is subjected to cruel therapy in a mental
asylum. Lazzi
approach their subject with their usual blend of breathtaking energy and
dazzling invention. This psycho-theatrical experiment plays in the morning on
the Edinburgh Fringe – and promises to deliver a shot of theatrical expresso. WITKACY
IDIOTA
is devised and directed by David W W Johnstone. It renews
the creative performance partnership last seen in Lazzi's acclaimed Mr
Pinocchio, reuniting Johnstone with actor Sandy Grierson. Both have had a
long-term interest in, and involvement with, the Polish avant-garde. Sandy
Grierson has studied with, and been a company member of Zofia Kalinska's Ariel
Teatr for the acclaimed A Little Requiem for Kantor, and Dybuk. Zofia
Kalinska was a member of Kantor’s Cricot 2, and her productions with Kantor
included Witkacy's The Water Hen. Grierson is also a member of Vanishing
Point Theatre Company (Man Cub, The Lost
Ones, Stars Beneath the Sea), and has worked with Prime Productions (Romeo
& Juliet, Sunset Song). Of
Lazzi’s last major Fringe production, Mr Pinocchio: ‘The
performances are flawless, this challenging piece of mime in the style of Polish
avant garde theatre is a unique experience. It ... tells its bitter-sweet story
in a language of theatre that you may not yet have encountered.’ (The
Scotsman) ‘Johnstone...
delivers a masterclass in physical comedy...this is a production filled with
grand gestures and delicate touches. It’s barking mad, of course, but defies
you not to fall in love with it.’ (The
Stage) WITKACY
IDIOTA 15
– 20 August 2005 10.10
am (70 mins) £7/£5 Rocket
@ Demarco Roxy Art House Box
Office 0871 750 0077
Lazzi
contact: David
W W Johnstone, Artistic Director, Lazzi t:
0131 447 3077 m:
078379 78379 e:
dwwj@lazzi.co.uk |