The theatre group has been operating for less than three months, and has already staged one performance, “A Piece of Art About Love,” based on texts for adults by Jan Brzechwa. Rehearsals take place at the newly opened Orzeł Cultural Integration Centre. Thirty people of different ages take part (students from primary, middle and secondary schools, as well as very active retirees). Where did these young and mature actors come from?
They came with friends to an open rehearsal, stayed longer after the last performance, had previously worked with Mariusz at MDK, or were drawn by curiosity about the new event. They also dreamed of performing on stage and becoming actors…
Daniel, a participant in the University of the Third Age, says that he called Marusz Laudański with great shyness and concern about whether he could take part in an undertaking he thought had been created only for young people.
– When Mariusz asked me my age, I froze – Daniel recalls his efforts to join the theatre classes. – I thought it was bad because he was asking how old I was, and I probably had too many years behind me – he concludes his story.
Daniel was not too old to perform. As Mariusz says, the amateur actor has so much energy, natural talent and love of acting that he is a “locomotive” pulling the entire group along.
– I made a mistake at the beginning – Mariusz admits. – I classically divided the large group into three smaller age groups: the youngest, the older ones and the oldest. And I noticed something strange. During rehearsals, the young people slumped in their chairs and armchairs; it was difficult to get anything out of them. It was similar with the primary-school children. The adults, on the other hand, simply radiated energy; it was difficult to restrain them. They constantly wanted to rehearse, act more and experience more. Then I understood that, for something to come of it, we had to bring them together. And now, when they rehearse together, there is energy and enthusiasm, and everyone gets involved – the instructor says.
There really is energy during the classes. The group is rehearsing scenes for the performance “A Piece of Art About Love,” which it will repeat on 26 May, Mother’s Day. Daniel comes onto the stage with his partner. The woman lies on a sofa; she is a wife waiting for her unfaithful husband. Brzechwa’s texts are ironic, witty, full of sudden twists and amusing bon mots (funny sayings). They also contain plenty of emotion, flirtation, life wisdom and anecdotes. An excellent repertoire for beginners: ambitious on the one hand, yet relaxed and full of good humour on the other.
The actors gathered for the rehearsal watch their colleagues practising and laugh at the stories being performed. – I remember playing these scenes myself as a teenager at MDK, in classes with Ula Frąszczak-Matyjewicz – Mariusz says. – It was fun, an opportunity to meet peers and a chance to pick up a girl. Of course, I performed as well. And it is similar now. It is not about complete silence during rehearsals or the murderous repetition of lines; it is about the joy of acting. They are amateurs, and most of them have problems with diction, pronunciation and voice projection. They have been practising for less than three months. After a month, I made them perform, all so that they could feel the stage. I was criticised because the audience in the back rows could not hear the shyest actors. I could have said at the very beginning that the performance was a kind of workshop, a trial, because working with amateurs is different – Mariusz adds.
The participants practise, deliver their lines, exchange comments and talk among themselves. They describe their first steps on stage. They speak about stress, fear and apprehension before the audience, but also about courage, overcoming stage fright for the first time, relief and pride at having performed and managed to remember an entire speech. They talk about making theatre and speak of their love for the stage.
You can enrol in theatre classes at CIK Orzeł by contacting the BOK-MCC office (by Piłsudski Square) or by coming to the workshops on Tuesdays from 17:00 to 19:00.
The following appear in the performance “A Piece of Art About Love”: Nicole Brands, Dobrosława Pietrkiewicz, Kacper Gajda, Karolina Zdunek, Karolina Stefaniak, Natalia Barabasz, Magda Szoka, Michał Krawczewski, Agata Chłopecka, Karolina Domańska, Dawid Poznański, Patrycja Boluk, Natalia Ferlewicz, Julia Kawałko, Agata Lenda, Sebastian Mihaljev, Honorata Polak, Korneliusz Rzeźnicki, Daniel Popieliński, Jola Koźmin, Łucja Mielczarek, Andreas Kostyra.
(information: G.H.)