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2 September 2010

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Aleksander Fredro, "The Annuity", directed by Jan Englert
Directed by Jan Englert, Narodowy Theatre in Warsaw, June 2001
languages: Polski  / English 
 

The last premiere of this season in the National Theatre of Warsaw was "DOŻYWOCIE" / "THE ANNUITY" by Aleksander Fredro. This classic text of Polish comedy dated in the first half of the 19th century was directed by Jan Englert.

"THE ANNUITY" is one of the most humorous and in the same time one of the most serious comedies of Aleksander Fredro, the undoubtedly most outstanding Polish comedy writer, meriting the comparison even to Moliere's "THE MISER (L'AVARE)". Fredro introduced there the character called Latka (Jan Englert), an usurer, who buys out the life rent of Birbancki (Grzegorz Malecki). However, in order not to lose its perpetuity, he has to take care of the young reveller. Birbancki falls in love with Rozia (Magdalena Warzecha) and then threatened Latka brews an intrigue to save his (promised) money...

The actors wear historical costumes, nevertheless "THE ANNUITY" directed by Jan Englert, who is also playing the main role, is a contemporary story. It is a story of pathological love for money, which leads to degradation and bartering oneself and one's loved ones.
"The play of a rapid intrigue and lively dialogues speaks about an unceasing pursuit of money and its meaning seems to be still valid. Primitive and greedy, shaky and always busy, our domestic capitalist Łatka certainly has many cousins among contemporary nouveau riches. There is also plenty of young Birbanckis or Orgons, who, desiring to save their assets, decide to marry their daughters to people of a very suspect reputation." (Jan Bończa-Szabłowski, "Rzeczpospolita")
Fredro's text may therefore be given a contemporary dimension and instead of showing Poland of the 19. century it may start concerning the beginning of our century of the new capitalist system, of the beginnings of the sick greed, and the emerging new social class, which is defined by the fact of owning money. "THE ANNUITY" requires however an actor's mastery, which Jan Englert lacked a little playing a double role - the one of the main character of the play and the one of the director of the show in the National Theatre.
"Fredro suggested that his usurer is a person without dignity and physically hideous. Many actors playing this role changed therefore dramatically their appearance.

But besides the external make-up (...) there is the internal metamorphosis, which is of a great importance. (...) In case of Englert's Łatka I had an impression, that all effort was placed in the make-up. The lipstick, the powder and the gel. And nobody said that contemporary usurers have to look like vampires and demons of film horrors." (Jan Bończa-Szabłowski, "Rzeczpospolita")
Selected stagings of "THE ANNUITY":
  • 1948-1948 - Nowy Theatre in Poznań, directed by Ludwik Solski, Stanisław Płonka-Fiszer
  • 1963 - Współczesny Theatre in Warsaw, directed by Jerzy Kreczmar
  • 1968 - Theatre of Television (Teatr Telewizji), directed by Jacek Woszczerowicz
  • 1996 - Polish Theatre (Teatr Polski) in Warsaw, directed by Andrzej Łapicki
Aleksander Fredro, "DOŻYWOCIE / THE ANNUITY", directed by Jan Englert, scenery designed Barbara Hanicka, music by Maciej Małecki. Premiere: June 23, 2001 at the Narodowy Theatre in Warsaw.
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