Theatre Na Zábradlí (also known as At the Balustrade) produced a new play by Ladislav Smoljak – this time featuring the 15th Century Czech reformer John Huss.
The play is called Hus: Other Trifles of the Constance Council [Hus: alia minora Kostnického koncilu].
“Smoljak shows his ‘other face’ of a commentator observing political activities, taking part in civic initiatives and contemplating Czech national character.
The text examines one of the most important Czech national clichés – the legend of John Huss’ death – in most striking way.
Once we are able to concentrate on the content and the complicated arguments presented by individual characters to the Catholic Council in Constance, and on the Council’s historical and political circumstances, the play can make for quite a thrilling show. Main thing, though, is that we are presented with a story different from the generally accepted version of history, both vivid and relevant for the contemporary world.
“Seeing the confrontation between the Hungarian King Sigismund (Petr Čtvrtníček), his Chancellor Kašpar Šlik (Ladislav Smoljak) and the Czech nobility pleading in Huss’ favour, seeing Huss’ university colleague Štěpán Páleč help the Council to condemn the Czech heretic – all of this shows, without too much moralizing or comic derision, plenty about both Czech national self-deception and truth that may prevail but is in fact quite complicated.”
You will find the complete review of the production here:
M. Reslová: Nová hra Ladislava Smoljaka Jan Hus je vážná a ne cimrmanovsky humorná, iHNed.cz, 3.12.2009.