Journeys in a new Homeland by Simon Mol struck me as a provocative play after reading it. Race of Stamps is another provocative play by the author – Wojtek Laciski, Polish Radio Bis.
Migrator Theatre announces the premier of Simon Mol’s play Race of Stamps, directed by Polish director Mariusz Orski, on January 22nd at 18:00 at the National Ethnographic Museum, ul. Kredytowa 1., in Warsaw.
Can someone in a dire situation, as refugees find themselves in, afford the luxury of laughter? Does humor at refugee centers? Above all, is there any form of hope for those pending decisions to determine their fates? And how do politicians react when the subject of migration pops up on the table? As perceived by Poland Monthly; ‘Migrator Theatre brakes barriers through actual and thematic plays.
Race of Stamps is a political drama that tackles the thorny theme of the politics and problems of migration and cross-cultural currents from two perspectives; those who decide the fate of the migrants, and from the perspective of the migrants themselves, who in the course of waiting for a decision from the authorities at the refugee centers, wind time narrating their ordeals and plans to each other. Socially conscious individuals (a social worker, a lawyer and a gynecologist), who take it upon themselves to challenge hostile political decisions targeting migrants, also play a key role in the play, with their interventions adding spice, humour and provoking deep reflections through carefully-woven and powerful dialogues:
She thrusts the paper at the lawyer and starts crying again. The lawyer walks over to her and attempts to console her. Finally he picks the paper and reads it aloud:
Lawyer: Well, well… this is certainly an outrageous headline!…. I think you have every reason to be distressed. Now let me see… (pause as he appears to think)… before I can intervene in this matter I need certain clarifications… I understand fully well the humanistic dimension of the matter… notwithstanding, I still have to be realistic, as my profession requires, so; what, from your perspective is wrong with asking this young lady to undergo a gynecological test to proof that she was indeed circumcised? What argument can I put forward here to denounce such a decision?…
Pani Teresa sits silently, appearing to think…
Lawyer: Let me put it this way; you see under normal circumstances this is probably an immoral decision, viewed from other perspectives, but … but, the law is another thing…. There is an English saying that ‘The law is an ass’… in diverse and unpredictable cases this turns out to be right… The law is ruled by facts and hard evidences and here we certainly lack these… it would require experience, skill, professional dexterity and resounding eloquence to make morale argument a sound instrument… what morale argument do we have?
Pani Teresa: ... What morale argument you ask? Think again Lawyer..... if indeed this lady was circumcised, don’t you think asking her to undergo such a test is like forcing her to undergo the circumcision process all over again!? Imagine for once the pain….imagine!…
Lawyer: .. and what if she wasn’t?
Pani Teresa: … what if she wasn’t you ask? Ok, (shaking her head)..what if she wasn’t? Where in the 1951 Geneva Convention is it stated that in such a situation the asylum seeker must undergo a medical test?Quote this to me ….worse than this, asking a woman to undress in front of a gynaecologist, not because she is sick, but because someone up-there wants to verify her story is an insult to womanhood!…. is there a single man on this planet who wasn’t born by a woman? Is there a single man walking the surface of this Earth whose mother didn’t weep while giving birth to him? What do men want to make of women?…(she starts weeping)...
Lawyer: Ok….(pause)… ok.. I see your point woman… your determination and moral stand is strong enough to outweigh even the most glaring of material evidence!…. I will join forces with you.
Pani Teresa: Thank you Mr. Lawyer
Lawyer: You don’t have to…..(pause).. I too was born by a woman.
The 1hr 30min play is equally replete with layers of sub-plots, with each smoothly reaching its climax, as the plot unravels coherently around two central characters; Liengu la-Njuma (an asylum seekers and the main protagonist, and Janusz Bogaty- a controversial administrative figure who sets the plot in motion; his personality is so strong that without him the play falls apart). These features make the play full of suspence from start to finish. Beside its tough characters, there are interluds of performances; live performance of drumming, dancing, singing and Tai Chi on stage.
The play shall be performed by a mixture of professional and amateurs actors from well over 7 different countries. There shall be a special appearance in the play by two honorary actors from the Polish National Theatre, and another from the Rozmajtośći Theatre in Warsaw.
The English weekly newsmagazine Warsaw Voice and TOK FM are the media patrons for the event while the Austrian Culture Forum is the main sponsor.
The play shall come on again on February 16th at the Piekarnia Club (Warsaw) and on the 17th at the Osrodek Działan Twortość (Centre for Creative Activities) in Warsaw. It shall also be performed at the Le Madamme Club in Warsaw on a date soon to be announced, while Teatre Ośmego Dnia (Eighth Day Theatre) in Poznan has extended an invitation for the play to be hosted by them in Autumn.
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