Review: DUSK-DAWN at Teatr Polski

There was a place like any other place. A city mixed with life, joy and sorrow, sunrises and sunsets, ordinary and extraordinary at the same time. The people, the time and the music - that's what you would see on stage.

This story has a timeline and a plot, but that's not the essence of it. It's like a long musical journey that you take with pleasure and sensitivity. You would see the dirt and fog of a city that was already gone in the past. It is no longer real and the pictures you see are like memories you bring back by looking at old photos and souvenirs.

With a large number of artists, Jan Szurmiej shows his vision of reality in a city of Odessa where Jewish, Ukrainian, Russian and Turkish cultures blend together and create a specific atmosphere that is not accepted by everyone. You can see some streets, houses, families, a port, a casino, a cabaret and a synagogue. It's like a roller coaster. The main character in this play is Moldavanka - a Jewish quarter that lives in different times and with different people - sometimes changing in very sad ways.

Habitants we are looking are very much alive and they live their lives trying to embrace everything that is happening around them. And a lot is happening... The colorful environment is forever changed by the revolution that has come to reassess lives on so many different levels.

The whole piece is nice, tidy (even with half-naked revolutionary women), polished, and very unreal. With clear intention, the director delves into this sugar-coated world covered in pleasant smiles of betrayal and perfidy. The destruction of people and the evil itself, a really interesting point of view and look at the tragic events.

This musical journey is full of color and life until the end when a singer leads with words the envy of a world destroyed by his own people. There are some remarkable scenes, one of my favorites is the very lyrical and simple Marusia's song (especially compared to a rushed and energetic world, which touches you deeply).

My biggest like goes to Blazej Michalski, watching him turning into a delinquent is a blast. Well, looking at himself is a blast, he brings some serious flirtation and for some reason I was on his side until the end even though I know it's wrong.

I watched the show online and unfortunately I think it would be a lot better live, the almost 3 hour show would have to be seen on stage to feel better movement, dirt and music. I cross my finger so that soon it will be possible.

Photo: Tomasz Konieczny

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