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Drama

VATZLAV

VATZLAV, by Slawomir Mrozek directed by Phil Mann commencing at Unity Theatre April 13.

Apparently, the script of Unity's latest production manifested itself one day on Phil Mann's bookshelves. Impressed by this cunning blend of theatricality and ontological bloody mindedness, he sat down immediately to read it. Seventy-seven scenes, one Oedipus Rex (blind) a naked Justice, two vampires, and a castrated bear later, he knew that Vatzlav was destined for the Wellington audiences which it captures so convincingly!

"Vatzlav is a great farce, a satire, and at the same time a sparkling, funny and original creation Vatzlav, a twentieth century Everyman, has the hang-ups of the modern world . . . During his travels and adventures in a mythical land, Vatzlav meets Mr and Mrs Bat, a capitalistic couple feeding on the blood of the people — literally; their 40 year old little boy becomes a bear and incites the folk to rebellion; the naive and beautiful Justine, who plays the role of Justice and believes that babies are made by the mind; General Barbaro and his army of liberation; the wily and earthy peasants Quail and Sassafras; the self-proclaimed genius who seeks to bring justice to an unjust words; and Oedipus Rex, the self-important blind spying guardian of the law."

Vatzlav was first performed at the Theatre am Neumarkt in Zurich, 1970. Polish playwright Mrozek is perhaps best known for his Tango, and, to a lesser extent, Charlie, and All at Sea. His name is mentioned along with that of Grotow-ski.

According to Phil Mann, the play is "open style' — it is not bound in period or style, and he intends to exploit this to the full by an interpretation 'along broad expressive lines — carrying characterisation sometimes to extremes, tremendous dependence upon gesture, and easy back and forth flow between audience and actors.' The unity of the play, despite its 77 scenes, lies in its incisive political wit, and the vision du monde which is expressed thereby. Phil says that the vision is, finally, 'kind of desperate — it virtually ays, on a political and social level, 'we're in trouble." From what I've seen of the play in rehearsal, Mrozek does not share Phil Mann's tas for understatement!

As far as Unity have been able to ascertain, this is the first production of Vatzlav this is the first production of Vatzlav in N.Z. It features Terrence Nonwejler as Vatzlav, Geoff Thomas as General Barbaro, Tom Mainwaring as Quail, Paul Hamlin as Sassafras, and Helen Moulder as Justine.

And by the way, the castrated bear was actually mistaken for a camel, but was in reality Vatzlav.