Birds are always crashing into the glass walls of the Stepmother’s cold, designer home. The “analogue” Fortune Teller entertains Cinderella/Kosia with magic tricks, and above all, thanks to his sober take on the world, he helps her cope with her mother’s death, of which we are constantly reminded by loud hammering on percussion. He also helps her rediscover her joy in life. Meanwhile, the Prince is just as lost as Kosia and needs help.
The familiar story of Cinderella becomes a story full of unexpected twists and turns in this original version by French playwright and director Joël Pommerat. Directed for the Stary Theatre by Anna Smolar, the play breaks a social taboo, because death and the mourning that comes with it remain controversial in children’s theatre, and speaking openly about them is thought transgress certain limits. And yet if they are to deal with difficult experiences and find the words to express them, children need support. They carefully observe the world that surrounds them and perceive certain phenomena, and so it seems better that we talk openly with them. This keeps young people from developing feelings of guilt and shame. In this remarkable Cinderella speaking about tough topics like the death of loved ones, anxiety about the passing of time, and everything that is new and different dampens the strength of bad emotions – because when we name things they lose the power to hurt us.
This dazzling, fun, and touching play by Anna Smolar is the Stary Theatre’s first production for younger viewers. But it is for adults as well.
