Artist: Jaak Vaus (Ugala)
Cast: Helgi Sallo, Anne Paluver, Marika Korolev, Marju Männik, Raivo Rüütel, Tõnu Kilgas, Raivo Mets, Toomas Tross, Jüri Karindi
- Is there any difference between theatre and a madhouse?
- Yes, there is - in the madhouse the director is normal.
(An old joke)
This is one of the best theatre comedies ever. Comedies about theatre mostly rely on situation comedy - all kinds of mishaps, confusions and chance, which can happen on stage, behind the stage and in the theatre house in general. The current play (Interdite au publique) is mostly based on character comedy. It is well know, after all, that anyone involved in theatre - especially actors - is a bit weird. They have an urge to perform, they are vain, craving for fame and often quite childish. The playwright Jean Marsan has focused on precisely these qualities of the actors - and the result is a grotesque comedy that nevertheless reveals the authors' warm attitude towards theatre people - partly perhaps they are so easy to make fun of. Besides, he really knew the world very well, having been an actor, director and playwright.
The comedy also creates many associations - we all remember the first years of the Vanalinnastuudio and our Old Baskin Theatre now. Lack of space and money, everything done 'roughly' and ready at the last minute, the actors have been borrowed... but the enthusiasm wins all.