Karel Čapek

The White Plague

Prague City Theatres (Prague, Czech Republic)
Translated by Michael Henry Heim – Hana Pavelková

Main stage
HU
RO
EN
13+
1h 30' without intermission

Galen / Marshal
Miroslav Donutil
 
Baron Krüg / Minister of Health
Eva Salzmannová
 
Father / Journalist / Professor / General
Tomáš Milostný
 
Sigelius / Mother
Milan Kačmarčík
 
Capek / 1st Assistant / Leper / Krüg jr.
Kryštof Krhovják
 
Son / Leper / 2nd. Assistant
Radek Melša
 
Daughter / Sister / Aneta - Marshal's Daughter / Leper
Kristýna Jedličková

directed by
Michal Dočekal
 
set design
Dragan Stojčevski
 
costume design
Eva Jiříkovská
 
music
Ivan Acher
 
video
František Pecháček
 
production manager
Jana Burinaová

ČAPEK'S PROPHETIC ALLEGORY DIRECTED BY MICHAL DOČEKAL AND STARRING MIROSLAV DONUTIL.
A pandemic of a disease from China spreads around the world. There is no cure. The disease also comes to a country with a nationalist leader who wants to start a war with their smaller neighbour. Does this remind you of anything? No, this is not a summary of recent years, but the starting point of Karel Čapek's famous 1937 drama.

In a nationalist state a doctor finds the cure to a disease that is plaguing the world, but he refuses to give his formula up until all countries agree to keep eternal peace. He confronts the militaristic and fanatic leader of his nation who wants to make his country great through war with their smaller neighbour. The doctor and the leader believe in their truth fanatically and are played by the same actor in our production. We also see the progress of manipulation of ordinary people through the story of one average family. The main antagonist is the blind manipulated mob in which individuals cease to think.