Theater for the New City Presents MR. M, Closes 5/1 Continues at JCC

With "Mr. M," Czechoslovak-American Marionette Theatre will perform the first American stage adaptation of "Mr. Theodore Mundstock," a story of the triumph of the human spirit by Ladislav Fuks, a postwar Czech writer of psychological fiction who achieved instant fame with that book, his debut novel. The drama, written and directed by Vit Horejs, is the latest in the company's "zivacek" plays, in which the cast is visible to the audience whether performing with or without puppets. ("Zivacek," which literally means "living," is the Czech expression for visible actors who act with puppets.)

Theater for the New City, 155 First Avenue, will present the play's world premiere conclusion on May 1. The production will continue May 5 to 8 at JCC in Manhattan, 334 Amsterdam Ave.

The story is set in 1942 Prague, Germans occupy the country, and Jews await the dreaded summons to the concentration camps. Mr. M is an ordinary man trying to prepare for an unimaginable fate. Each day his panic mounts, goading him to the brink of insanity. To calm himself, he resolves to prepare carefully, simulating the camp environment in his tiny apartment, learning to sleep on a wooden board, hardening his mind against insults and strengthening his muscles against hard labor. The preparations bring on a sudden calm and with pride, almost joy in anticipation, he dedicates himself to helping his friends who might share the same fate. Where there is humor in the play, it's "Terezin humor," an expression connotating the dark humor that Czech Jews adopted in their cabaret at Theresienstadt concentration camp.

Author Ladislav Fuks came of age during the Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia and ultimately wrote about it in his stories and novels. "Mr. Theodore Mundstock" ("Pan Theodor Mundstock"), initially published in 1963, was his first novel and made him famous almost overnight. The American version, translated by Iris Urwin and issued by Orion Press in 1968, introduced English speaking readers to a novel as rich and eccentric as anything by Fuks' fellow countryman, Franz Kafka.

The novel is being interpreted for the stage by Vit Horejs, Artistic Director of Czechoslovak-American Marionette Theatre, who has been haunted by the story since his 1970s student days in Prague.

The production emphasizes object theater over puppetry. Mr. M's furniture moves around him, the room morphs into a concentration camp in his dreams and reality turns inside out as he visits his friends in "reality" and they visit him in his "imagination." There is one directly manipulated puppet, Mr. M's shadow or alter ego. There is also a short marionette scene featuring Czech toy marionettes. (One is an antique and the rest were built from 1930s molds by Milos Kasal. The antique was actually a toy of Horejs's mother.) Yiddish songs will be performed live by Adrienne Cooper.

The performers, all company members of Czechoslovak-American Marionette Theatre, are Deborah Beshaw, Michelle Beshaw, Vit Horejs, Theresa Linnihan, Steven Ryan and Ronny Wasserstrom (who plays the title character). Set and costume design and the puppet of Mr. M's shadow are by Michelle Beshaw. Lighting design is by Federico Restrepo.

Performances are April 14 to May 1, 2011 at Theater for the New City, 155 First Avenue (at East 10th Street). The schedule is Thursdays through Saturdays at 8:00 PM and Sundays at 3:00 PM. Tickets are $10. The box office (number is 212) 254-1109 and tickets can be purchased at www.theaterforthenewcity.net. Previews are April 14 and 15 the opening is April 16. The production continues May 5 (Thurs) at 8:00 PM, May 7 (Sat) at 9:00 PM, May 8 (Sun) at 5:00 PM at JCC in Manhattan, 334 Amsterdam Avenue (between 75th & 76th Streets). Tickets to the JCC performances are $15 for members and $20 for non-members. The box office number is (646) 505-5708 and tickets can be purchased online at www.jccarts.org.