What are the limits of (musical) absurdity?
Among the regular participants of the festival Setkání/ENCOUNTER are groups from the Theatre Faculty of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (DAMU). This year they presented to the audience a musical adaptation of Brecht's well-known opera The Beggar's Opera. However, the opera’s protagonist Mackie Messer is slightly in the background and the theme of power takes priority. But what kind of power are we talking about here? Is it social power - who rules who? Is it the power of money - which so clearly moves the world? Or is it the power of masculinity - where men are the ones who stand at the head of the masses? Basically, all three answers are correct in this production.
However, I have to admit that this unconventional adaptation took me slightly by surprise, and judging by the audience's reactions, I was not the only one. We were presented with a form that in many ways played against itself. With purposeful absurdity, themes that pretend to be serious suddenly find themselves shattering the entire intended construct. Some interestingly absurd ideas (to name a few, the transmission of scent via telephone or the kazoo quartet) are smashed by the direct humour (the revelation by means of sequined underwear that a policeman has a secret second job comes off as very stilted).
The production doesn't skimp on engaging wordplay and offers us some solid acting performances and catchy musical numbers. The highlight of the whole production is the big final number (which I guess even a musical can't do without). The paradox remains, however, that this last grandiose passage is completely out of step with the concept that the production has been building up all along. The real issues of the recent presidential election gave the production a major dramatic twist.
Although in many ways this musical-dramatic venture may have caused confusion, one thing must be admitted: the moment the viewer decides to tune in to the wave of absurdity, they are in for quite an enjoyable artistic experience.
