Mémoires uit de regenpijpjaren | Gombrowicz / Charms
Intro
Translation and adaptation of the story of the same name for the young by Witold Gombrowicz, enhanced with fragments from his amazing diaries and with short narrative interludes by Daniil Kharms.
Premiere: 1997, Victoria, Ghent (BE)
German premiere: 1998, Hamburg (DE)
The work of the Polish writer Witold Gombrowicz (1904-1969) has had a major influence on Waas Gramser’s life and work. She made the acquaintance of his work at drama school, in the form of 'Yvonne, Princess of Burgundy', her graduation piece in 1989. She later read his short stories, in 1991 his 'Diaries' and then every other work of his that had been published, even those that were not translated into Dutch. This was followed by correspondence with his widow, Rita Gombrowicz, and meetings in Paris.
Here are some striking quotes from his Diaries:
– Would you like to know who you are? Don’t ask. Your actions will define and identify you. You will find out through your actions. But you have to act as an ‘I’, as an individual, because you can only be certain of your own needs, tendencies and passions.
– You are an artist in the eyes of the non-artist. When an artist meets another artist, they both change into colleagues.
– No one wants to work, everyone wants to be an artist!
And of course Comp.Marius’ motto:
– I expect art not only to be good as art, but also to fit well into life. I prefer to hear Chopin echoing across the street through an open window than with all the accompanying frills of a concert platform.
In preparation for a rerun of the monologue in February of this year, Gramser read Gombrowicz’ Diaries for the 5th time! She made a note of all the passages that were against the critics. They have been warned! Where is the platform on which we can cross swords with them? Like 8-year-olds having an argument with their older brother, who then gives them a thrashing, they leap out from behind a bush and employ 'cuckoo tactics'. They cry "idiots!" and then hide again.
According to Gramser, Gombrowicz is immensely amusing when being provocative (What courage! What lucidity!); he moves one to tears when he writes of the loneliness that goes with his persistent struggle for self-fulfilment. A loneliness that weighed more heavily as he became older.
And that’s an end to it, so there!
Credits
Adaptation and performance: Waas Gramser
In collaboration with: Kyoko Scholiers, Benny Claessens, Kris Van Trier
Costumes (design and realisation): Thijsje Strypens
Production: De Onderneming
Past play dates
February 1999
Feb
Netwerk – Aalst (BE)
December 1998
Dec
Provadja – Alkmaar
Dec
Plaza Futura – Eindhoven (NL)
Dec
Witte theater – Ijmuiden
Dec
Theater Bouwkunde – Deventer
Dec
O42 – Nijmegen
Dec
Stadsschouwburg Arnhem – Arnhem
Dec
Concordia – Enschede
November 1998
Nov
CC De Velinx – Tongeren (BE)
Nov
CC De Velinx – Dijk 111, bus 2, Tongeren (BE)
Nov
Kunstencentrum België – Hasselt (BE)
Nov
Netwerk – Aalst (BE)
October 1998
Oct
CC De Ster – Pastorijstraat 15, Willebroek (BE)
Oct
Palais des Beaux-Arts – Brussel (BE)
Oct
Limelight – Kortrijk (BE)
Oct
Limelight – Kortrijk (BE)
Oct
Limelight – Kortrijk (BE)
Oct
Limelight – Kortrijk (BE)
Oct
Limelight – Kortrijk (BE)
Oct
Limelight – Kortrijk (BE)
Oct
Limelight – Kortrijk (BE)
Oct
Limelight – Kortrijk (BE)
Oct
STUK – Leuven (BE)
September 1997
Sep
Rotterdamse Schouwburg – Schouwburgplein 96, Rotterdam (NL)
Sep
Rotterdamse Schouwburg – Schouwburgplein 25, Rotterdam (NL)
February 1997
Feb
Victoria – Gent (BE)
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