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Karel Čapek

Krakatit

Explosion, desire and ambition in a feverish dream according to Karel Čapek.

Švandovo Theatre Ensemble
Show Length: 2 hrs 55 min including intermission
Director: Daniel Hrbek
Premiere Date: 28. 9. 2013
Derniere Date: 7. 10. 2015

Krakatit surpasses the traditional work of Karel Čapek; this work lacks Čapek's typical moderation, orderliness and pragmatism; we can, without exaggeration, say that the author lost control over it. No wonder! Čapek writes the famous novel in his early thirties, when he has taken on more and more work, when he has been struggling for a few years already with pain caused by Bechterew's disease, and especially when he has found himself between two women - Olga Scheinpflugová and Věra Hrůzová. The spiritual crisis culminates in the spring of 1923. That could also explain why reason recedes in the novel and a lot of the suppressed, hidden and unrestrained, even fundamental, comes to the surface. Krakatit is deservedly described as Karel Čapek's most autobiographical novel.

Fever and explosion. Two central motives that permeate Krakatit on different levels and meanings. Ferocity and sudden suspension. Passion for knowledge and erotic passion; shattering of tranquility and order, stretching boundaries until self-destruction. A moment put in opposition to eternity. Feelings of sentimentality but also dour and inconsiderate expedition for something. Painful self-knowledge and in its consequence irreversible responsibility for one's actions.

Čapek created the world on the edge of dream and reality, possibly even on the edge of life and death, consciousness and unconsciousness. Therefore, everything is possible in here: way too peaceful order in Týnice, Kafkaesque absurdity of military monarchy, shadows of total anarchy brought to life and premonition of chaos as well as dialogs with the Devil or God beyond time and space.

 
CHARACTERS AND CAST
PROKOP: Tomáš Pavelka
TOMEŠ, SUWALSKI: Filip Čapka
PLINIUS, DOCTOR, PAUL, GOD: Stanislav Šárský
KRAFFT, PROFESSOR 1: David Punčochář
COUSIN, PROFESSOR 2: Jaroslav Šmíd
CARSON, PROFESSOR 3: Petr Vaněk
D'HÉMON / DAIMON, PROFESSOR 4: Robert Jašków
VEILED WOMAN: Kristýna Frejová
ANČI: Martina Krátká
HAGEN, LIEUTENANT ROHLAUF: Marek Pospíchal
PRINCESS: Zuzana Onufráková                              
ONCLE CHARLES: Marek Daniel
HOLZ: Mario Čermák
SOLDIER / LAB ASSISTANT: Michal Švarc / Adam Vacula
SOLDIERS: Jan Holec, Roman Zlatohlávek, Milan Loucký, Pavel Grösser, Matouš Filcík, Filip Jeřábek, Tomáš Bukovský, Ondřej Juráň

PRODUCTION TEAM
DRAMATIZATION: Daniel Hrbek, Martina Kinská
DRAMATURGY: Martina Kinská
MUSIC: Milan Cais
STAGE DESIGN: Petr Masopust, Daniel Hrbek       
COSTUMES: Jozef Hugo Čačko
PRODUCTION: Jitka Dvořáková
CHOREOGRAPHY: Mario Čermák, Ivana Dukič 
ANIMATION: Martin Kulhánek
STAGE MANAGER: Blanka Popková
ASSISTANT TO DIRECTOR: Blanka Popková

References

První divadelní Krakatit zneklidňuje hudbou i cihlami továrny

Tomáš Šťástka, idnes.cz
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Karel Čapek

Krakatit

Švandovo Theatre Ensemble
Show Length: 2 hrs 55 min including intermission
Director: Daniel Hrbek
Premiere Date: 28. 9. 2013
Derniere Date: 7. 10. 2015

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