The Pen, Paint, and Pretzels' spring minor production of "The Garden Party" embraces the circular arguments and absurdist nature of the original production. Among snippets of humor and a cascade of superficial disagreements, the political context of communist Czechoslovakia in the '60s is laid bare on stage.
The show, directed by senior Laura Gerhardt, opens with the main character, Hugo (played by sophomore Braden Pierce), playing against himself in a game of chess while his parents anxiously wait for the arrival of one of Hugo's father's old childhood friends, Mr. Kalabais, who has risen to power within the Liquidation Party. Hugo's parents worry obsessively about their son's future and hang all of their hopes on the meeting between Hugo and Mr. Kabalais. Both parents circle around Hugo, repeatedly asking him the same questions and nervously watching the time.
When Mr. Kabalais fails to show up and the parents learn from a telegram that he is attending a Liquidation Office Garden Party, they immediately send Hugo to find Mr. Kalabais in hopes of an impromptu appointment. A series of nonsensical arguments between and among the Liquidation Party and the Inaugural Party ensues. During his time at the garden party, Hugo picks up on the affectations of the other characters, leading to a loss of his own identity. Metaphorically, Hugo is once again playing chess with himself.
The play's strength rests in its comical whirlwind of dialogue and numerous repetitions of ridiculous notions. Eventually, Hugo uses this insanity to his own advantage and mimics the other characters' own questions in order to manipulate them. This power has a dehumanizing effect on Hugo, stripping him of so much of his identity that his own parents fail to recognize him.
It is difficult to find a voice of reason within the play as almost every character is equally absurd, but every so often, Hugo will voice a line of wisdom. When the character Maxx Falk (freshman Ann Noling) asks Hugo what he thinks of "all this," Hugo says, "Well, at the beginning, the argument was quite interesting, but then it got a bit out of hand, didn't it?" Shortly after this moment of sanity, however, Hugo begins to lose his personality and own sense of reason. His transformation is exemplified in his speech, which begins to mirror the Bureaus of Liquidation and Inauguration's incomprehensible style.
In a play with so many nonsensical conversations and so much complex language, it seems almost impossible for actors not to forget a line or mess up timing. The speed of the characters' dialogue, however, is integral to the play's humor and satirical message, emphasizing the concept of a fast-paced political machine. The challenge given to the cast is daunting, yet taken on enthusiastically.
"The Garden Party" also tests the audience as well as the cast to think beyond reason and lose themselves in mixed-up logic and political allusions.
"The play is a really interesting choice for a minor," Sophomore Alec Ernest, who plays Peter, said. "It's supposed to be absurdist, which makes the play very intellectual and political."
"The Garden Party" was one of the first full-length plays written by Václav Havel in 1963 and was later translated by Jan Novék. In his work, Havel attacks the ideals and philosophy of socialist realism in the '60s. In an age when optimism was the accepted Czechoslovakian outlook, Havel fought back with a play that delved into absurdist pessimism. The play proved popular with the general public, which viewed it as a critique of Stalinism and securely established Havel as a successful young playwright after its performance.
"The Garden Party" opens Tuesday night, March 10th, and will have two showings, one at 7 p.m. and another later performance at 9:30 p.m. Both performances are free and take place in Balch Arena Theater.
