DUST CATCHERS
Adaptation of Lucia Fowler's novel nominated for Magnesia Litera for Discovery of the Year
We all know dust collectors. They lie on our shelves like relics of the past, like remnants of paths we could have taken and didn't take, paths we are afraid to forget, that we are afraid to leave. Anna could tell you about it. She has quite a collection of them herself and sometimes even feels like she is one of them. Or is it feeling of the Narrator that appears in her life (or just in her head?) and never leaves?
LUCIE FAULEROVÁ
Already in 2017, thanks to the collaboration with Kateřina Šedá on the project "BRNOX - a guide to the Brno Bronx," she almost became a joint winner of the Magnesia Litera award for journalism. A year after that, she was nominated for the same award in the "Novel" category for her debut novel Dust collectors. In May 2021, she was awarded the European Union Prize for Literature for her second novel Smrtholka.
She said she likes loosers like Anna.
CONVERSATION
with Anna, Viktor Kavi, Sister a Director
WHY DUST COLLECTORS?
Anna: Because I have them at home.
Viktor Kavi: Sometimes it's good to look back on the past and process these emotions. Ideally with a mediator.
Sister: I wipe the dust regularly.
Director: Dust Collectors is the embodiment of that sarcasm and loneliness, which can be cruel, but nevertheless part of life.
WHAT IS IT ABOUT?
Anna: About me.
Viktor Kavi: About unprocessed and repressed emotions that inevitably surface at some point.
Director: About sadness, which does not lack humor and which has more colors than it looks.
Sister: I don't know.
WHAT COULD HELP ANNA?
Anna: Apaurin, or mirzaten.
Viktor Kavi: Definitely not a mediator.
Sister: If she finally met the right guy.
Director: Small steps towards people.
WHAT DO YOU EXPERIENCE WHEN YOU MEET ANNA?
Anna: A sudden feeling of pressure in the upper part of the digestive tract, this feeling is also known as reflux. In one word: Vomitting.
Viktor Kavi: Guilt.
Sister: Sisterly love.
Anna: Reflux.
Dramaturgist: The desire not to end up like her.
"WHAT WOULD YOUR OWN NARRATOR SAY ABOUT YOU IF YOU WERE A CHARACTER IN A NOVEL?"
Anna knows the answer to this question all too well. Even in the moments when it seems that she is alone, there is somebody standing close to her - her Narrator.
You can't rely on what he says about her, but that also applies to what Anna says about herself. The narrator shows a different view of Anna, and at the same time stimulates curiosity with her mysteriousness - is he part of Anna's personality, or is the creator of both characters - Lucie Faulerová - just playing with us? Or is it those who adapted her book for the theater?
Literary science has been talking about so-called unreliable narrators since the sixties of the twentieth century, but their oldest example is Plautus' Proud Soldier from the third century BC.
There are many reasons why we may not trust narrators. Sometimes we accuse them of being unreliable because what they tell us does not match our beliefs or experiences. Today, Verne's heroes describing their science-fiction experiences would be considered a liars, whereas in their time they were characters who experienced somewhat feasible adventures. Other narrators rely on their unreliable memory - some events they simply don't remember, or even deliberately tell so. Therefore we don't know the whole truth (and they can appear as a better people than they are).
Anna's Narrator is a little different. As a secondary character, he cynically reflects on Anna's life and the way Anna views herself. It is not clear if he is a separate being or just a figment of Anna's mind, because although Anna has some power over him, he still plays with her quite cruelly (in the book he keeps Anna to die several times), evokes long-buried memories (which even Anna cannot fully rely on) and at the same time is her only partner during long, lonely nights.
One cannot decide which of them to trust less or more. It only depends on the viewer which interpretation he prefers. Should we pity Anna or despise her?
MEME ANN'S LIFE
IF YOU DON'T WANT TO END UP LIKE ANNA:
DON'T LET GO OF THE SOUL
Even mental health is health
DON'T PANIC
Psychological quick help that is always at hand
MAKES A TEAM
ŠTĚPÁNKA ROMOVA
Anna
PAVEL SHUPINA
Narrator, Fracek, Sister, Viktor Kavi
ZDENEK BLOWED
Mercedes, Ondřej, sound engineer
EVA LIETAVOVA
Director/ Author of the adaptation
PATRIK BOUŠEK
Dramaturge
KATEŘINA HÖFEROVÁ
Set designer
LUCIE OŠMEROVÁ
Production
BOHDANA SYKOROVÁ
Light designer
REVIEW
THE KRITTIC THEATER
"In Lapače prach there is an engaging connection between the original and the production it has
the potential to surprise, shock and emotionally impact. Bazmek entertainment so
it shows self-confident independent creation and takes another substantial step towards establishing its own
position not only in the Brno theater area."
"In the end, all that remains is a desperate desire to remove the layers of lies from your memories and get better
so the truth about the beginning of your problems. The actress portrays this transformation with
a huge commitment and a visible understanding of the fate of the character of Anna."
Find the past beneath the dust | Kritické Theatrum magazine (muni.cz)
Do you want to contribute more than just the price of your ticket and help us get the show to more audiences?
You can donate any amount to account number 103476335/2250.
If you are interested in issuing a donation contract, let us know at bazmekentertainment@gmail.cz
The production is realized with the financial support of the statutory city of Brno, the Ministry of Culture and the Artist's Life Foundation and in cooperation with the Tripitaka association.
