Review: HOSPITAL AT THE END OF THE CITY. MUSIC FOR SURGERY at Jerzy Szaniawski Dramatyczny Theater In Walbrzych

This show is about something that touches us all. Health care is a concept we all dread to dive into, but we all do it, at some point in our lives, whether we like it or not. Accidents, illnesses, and disabilities are present in our journey on earth directly or indirectly, as well as hospitals, doctors, and other patients. This dance on the line between good feelings and death it's sometimes very dynamic or sudden, and whether you're lucky or not you have to deal with it somehow.

And that experience can be as abstract as the director's humor.

The concept of this piece is to bring in various aspects of what is related to what is called the health service. Maciej Podstawny, the director, navigates through his thoughts and variations of approaches. We can see his struggles (Michal Kosela even acts as the director on stage and he's absolutely brilliant), his research into what healthcare means for actors, his incredible humor, and the return of the grandfather of the European Tv medical show: Hospital at the End of the City.

The elements swing as in a carousel passing from laughter to bitterness, from reflections to great music. Abstract touches of humor mixed with a hard-to-swallow truth, a reflection on life and its vulnerability. This universal subject and the complicated patient-doctor-system relationships make this show very accessible and at some point, you want to comfort it and cuddle it like a duckling saying: I know life is hard.

The music (by Anna Stela) is excellent and the voices of the actors are even better. They play with their vocal cords and their instruments like a surgeon with a scalpel on the organs, with precision, consideration, and devotion.... Angelika Cegielska, Joanna Laganowska, Mateusz Flis, Michal Kosela, Rafal Kosowski, Mikolaj Krzeszowiec, and Ryszard Wegrzyn have powerful voices that are so beautiful, even if they sang the yellow pages you would be amazed.

The scenography (by Mirek Kaczmarek) is on point and takes us directly from the apartment, through the waiting room of a hospital, and the medical office to... a soccer field.

I lacked a bit of a core, the themes changed so quickly it was hard to feel comfortable with them, lively thoughts flew like in an essay more than a show. But the theater should talk about the struggle of life and not be just a philosophical digression on the existential dilemmas.

We also have to confront the point of view of an opposite voice, the doctors, who are very often also victims of the system.

I left the best for last. The director is a master of wordless humor. The opening scenes of the show and the second act are extremely funny with facial expressions from the actors, their body language, and our own experiences. We've all been there and it's so funny because you recognize the situations from your own life. It's hard to laugh in the real waiting room, but from audience's point of view, you can die (sic!) of laughter. Making the public smile is not easy but here, without a doubt, it's perfection. The scene in a waiting room and the football game are hard to forget. Or maybe we need more humor in the theater and our lives lately.

The performance is informative and revealing, it encourages reflection and discussion. In addition, it is sprinkled with humor, which, I know I repeat myself, but I have to, is an outstanding asset. Maybe next time, instead of getting frustrated, we'll just laugh at the situation, which shouldn't be funny.

Photo: Tobiasz Papuczys

To post a comment, you must register and login.