INTERVIEW: LaMaMa show addresses ‘dangers of masculinity and nationalism’
Photo: The cast members of Cezary Goes to War address issues such as masculinity and nationalism. Photo courtesy of Pat Mic / Provided by Everyman Agency with permission.
Cezary Goes to War, a new show being presented at LaMaMa in Manhattan, is billed as a musically-driven queer fantasia on masculinity, nationalism and the culture of war. In other words, the show, conceived and directed by Cezary Tomaszewski, is extremely topical, speaking to the subjects that populate newspaper and magazine headlines.
The show, set in a locker room, not only holds the playwright’s name in its title, but it’s also fashioned after his own experiences with Poland’s military draft, according to press notes. To convey some of these stories, Tomaszewski has pulled from military evaluations that purport to have the key to manliness, and his choreography is inspired by actual military drills.
LaMaMa presents this U.S. premiere in partnership with the Polish Cultural Institute and Komuna/Warszawa, who originally produced the piece in 2017. After that engagement, it moved to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2018 and other locations around the world. Performances in Downtown Manhattan at LaMaMa’s Ellen Stewart Theatre run Jan. 16-19.
Recently Hollywood Soapbox exchanged emails with Tomaszewski about the topical piece. He is not only a director of theater pieces; he also had a 15-year career as a singer in Poland’s National Opera. Questions and answers have been slightly edited for style.
What inspired you to put pen to paper and create Cezary Goes to War?
It was Komuna / Warszawa, a prestigious theater company in Warsaw, which invited me to engage with the complexities of war. If it wasn’t for their invitation, I probably would not have chosen it myself.
How autobiographical is the show?
It’s very autobiographical. I wanted to avoid generalized and common ways of approaching the subject of war, so I’ve decided to use my biography and personal stories. This decision opened new possibilities for realness, subjectivity, humor, queerness and music. Since my theatre work is mostly based on classical music, for Cezary Goes to War, I chose the works of Stanislaw Moniuszko, the father of 19th-century Polish national opera and composer of 12 books of songs. Few of them are part of the show, but I use them as a material to critically reflect upon masculinities and nationalism. Apart from Moniuszko, there’s also live music by Handel, Debussy and Shostakovich.
The themes of the show include male privilege, sexism, toxic masculinity and the patriarchy. The entire set of standards that society holds for men damages all of us. By dictating that men must be strong, deprived from feelings and dominating over women, the Western ideas of masculinity encourage violence and lead men to miss out those aspects of life that should be available to all people, regardless of gender — things like emotional connection and nurturing.
Are these issues heightened even more in these troubled times?
Yes, of course. In a consistent and cynical way, they are moving the world towards global disaster.
Are the themes specific to Poland, or are they more universal?
I believe that only honest and nuanced work can be universal. From small details to big issues, all of us are the embodiment of the world. Universalism, deprived from individuals, has no meaning and merely represents propaganda sentiments, which always lead in to sorrow.
Was there a difference in how audiences interpreted the piece in Warsaw and Edinburgh?
Not really. We’ve been lucky to tour around the world, including places where war is a strong issue, like in Sarajevo or Tel Aviv. In all of these places, Cezary Goes to War resonates well with the audience, being a platform for shared reflections, laughter and enjoyment.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Cezary Goes to Wra, conceived and directed by Cezary Tomaszewski, plays Jan. 16-19 at LaMaMa’s Ellen Stewart Theatre. The performances are presented by LaMaMa in association with the Polish Cultural Institute and Komuna / Warszawa. Click here for more information and tickets.
