Planned premiere: 22 May 2026
Csokonai Fórum, Kóti Árpád Stage
István Örkény’s drama, which was first staged in 1967, concerns itself with the process of self-abandonment, seeking an answer to the question: where is the point beyond which human sovereignty and dignity are at stake? The absurdity of the drama – which also represented a great shift in Örkény’s previous style of writing – comes from the way (one of) the main characters, Tót, gradually destroys himself in the service of the power relations of an invalid, outdated hierarchy – that of his son, who once fought on the front, and the Major who visits them. The absurdity of the conflict between the two polarities – the Major and Tót himself – is further heightened by the quiet, peaceful settings, the enclosed village where the Major no longer has to rely on his military lifestyle, yet his personality, scarred by war, is unable to switch to “peaceful” mode, as well as the way the woman play a “bridge-like role” between the men. This latter is manifested in the balancing act between “my sweet Lajos” and the pressure to conform to the Major, driven by adoration and love. As to how long one can continue to exist in this strained situation, or how long one can or should “box themselves in” is a question that is answered by Tamás Herczeg’s production, filled to the brim with novelties.
Directed by: Tamás T. Herczeg
