Polish Language Blog

If you don’t speak Polish, this doesn’t necessarily mean that a trip to the theatre (teatr) is a waste of time. For one thing, some of the most intriguing theatre these days is performed without the use of those excessive ‘word’ things. Poland has a reputation for weird and wonderful avant-garde theatre and there’s always something unusual on.

On the other hand, Poland has a rich tradition in classic theatre, and nineteenth century figures such as Adam Mickiewicz and Stanisław Wyspianski (himself a great European innovator in his time) have achieved an almost godly stature.

If you’re studying Polish culture, or you’re an expat living in Warsaw, it’s worth bearing in mind that not even James Bond could quote Polish poetry, so a trip to the theatre could improve your Casanova credentials immeasurably.

Although theatre flourished in Poland during the Renaissance, the first significant theatre hall was not raised until 1632. This was created by King Władysław IV at the Royal Castle in Warsaw – the king was a great sucker for Italian opera.

The golden age of Polish Theatre was ushered in by the enlightened King Stanisław August, who opened the country’s first public theatre in Warsaw in 1765. Plays were generally intended to provide an edifying experience, reviving the country from it’s intellectual decline.

Teatr Wielki w Warszawie

Later, in 1825, Warsaw’s first major opera house was founded, the Teatr Wielki (The Grand Theatre) . Although completely rebuilt after the war, it remains the city’s best venue for opera. It’s a huge building and a great place to get acquainted with lesser known classics such as Stanisław Moniuszko’s ‘The Haunted Manor’, which was premiered here in 1865.

Some of Warsaw Theatres:

Ateneum

ul. Juracza 2

Built in 1927, this edifice was originally the home of the League of Professional Cyclists. The theatre’s longstanding director Janusz Warmiński (1952-96) favoured original, modern pieces, and Ateneum maintains a fine reputation in those orbits. Almost all of Poland’s finest stage actors have played here.

Dramatyczny

Palace of Culture, pl. Defilad 1

Launched in 1949 as the “Theatre of the Home of the Polish Army” this stonker is based in the bombastic Palace of Culture, Stalin’s post-war present to Warsaw. Bertolt Brecht’s remarked on his visit, “What a beautiful alienation effect!” The theatre has seen many famous debuts (actors and playwrights) and it’s still a popular place for modern productions.

Teatr Wielki

pl. Teatralny 1

Founded in 1828, the aptly named Grand Theatre is a destination in itself. Something of a sanctuary of Polish culture during the nineteenth century era of partitions, the theatre had to be completely rebuilt after the Second World War – it had been reduced to little more than rubble during the conflict. In accordance with its original purpose, the theatre performs Polish and international opera – some of the best that you’ll see in Poland. The Teatr Narodowy (National Theatre)-an entirely separate institution – also performs classic plays here, and their branch is housed in the west wing at no.3. The main building also houses an excellent museum of theatre with a host of flamboyant costumes.

Komedia

ul. Słowackiego 19a

Mostly new pieces, and generally comedies, of course, performed by a young cast. Various reactions ­ some like it, some hate it, as is evidenced by their forum. Worth investigating then.

Kwadrat

ul. Czackiego 15/17

Founded in 1975, Kwadrat evolved into a home for comedy and social farce. Besides the best Polish works (usually modern pieces), many English, American and French plays are performed too (in Polish of course!) Their renowned troupe has toured the world.

Nowy

ul. Puławska 37/39

The ‘New’ theatre stages a variety of plays – most of which have a modern spin on them. Everything from classic Polish children’s tales, to the gods of Polish literature to Monty Python – punters either love it or hate it. Eclectic.

Roma

ul. Nowogrodzka 49

Respected musical theatre. Stages all the big musicals, performed by some of Poland’s finest artists. A great place to catch a lavish, lively show – recent hits have included the Polish versions of ‘Cats’, as well as older classics such ‘Grease’. A popular fixture.

If you visited any of these theaters, please let us know how you liked it:)

This year marks the twenty fifth anniversary of the death of one of cinemas most charismatic, glamorous and exotic actresses. Someone who, despite very humble beginnings in her birth country of Poland, rose to prominence and became a beloved icon worldwide: Miss Pola Negri.

She was born Barbara Apolonia Chałupiec on January 3rd 1897 in Lipno. Her mother Elenora Kelczewska was the daughter of impoverished Polish royalty and her father was of Slovakian descent.

Pola was left an only child after the deaths of her two siblings and grew up very much a loner, preferring her own company to that of anyone else.

Her father, Jerzy was the owner of a factory that produced tin (which Elenora had used part of her inheritance to buy). However, his true cause lay with political activism, which eventually resulted in his imprisonment and abandonment of his family – something which Pola carried with her as a scar for the rest of her life.

After this horrible event life took a turn for the worse for Pola and her mother, two businesses that Elenora had plumbed the last of her money into failed to thrive and a move to Warsaw failed to help their fortunes either. They lacked money for food and for furnishing their home – let alone for fripperies like car warranties or fuel to run even the most rudimentary vehicle.

It was here that fate and luck played a part in helping them. Pola was a naturally graceful girl – and a very adept dancer. Whilst playing in the street one day she was spotted by two people who sang in the Polish Opera and they offered her the chance to try out for the Polish Imperial Ballet. Pola took the opportunity with both hands, though was incredibly nervous on her first audition, having to run out to be violently ill!

She made her debut in Tchaikovsky’s “SwanLake”, though poor health put an abrupt end to her life as a ballerina as she contracted tuberculosis. She knew though, that something in the arts was what she was destined for and made a vow she would carry on in some way no matter what.

Pola made her film debut in 1914, in a film which also happens to have the distinction of being the first feature film ever made in Poland, called “Niewolnica Zmyslow” (Slave to Her Senses). She worked for the Sphinx Film Company, owned by Alexander Hertz, and was purported to be working shooting scenes during the day and then rushing off to perform in the theater at night, such was her demand and talent.

By 1917 and at the tender age of nineteen she was taken to Germanyto work for the Deutsches Theater, and it was from here on in that her career really took off. During this time she met the film director Ernst Lubitsch who was working for a company called UFA who just happened to be Germany’s leading film studio. Lubitsch recognized something in Pola and she was cast in an opulent drama called “Die Augen Die Mumie Ma” (The Eyes of The Mummy) in 1918. Her most remembered film role from this time was in “Madame Du Barry”, a lesson in not only Pola’s talent but one that broke down social and political barriers. This was the motion picture that halted the ban on post war German films in Americaand made a star of her and Lubitsch across the world. By 1922 Pola was signed to Paramount Studio, and about to embark on a life of extreme public presence.

Of course, Pola wasn’t the only European star to be taken over to Hollywoodat this time. Greta Garbo, Ingrid Bergman and Marlene Dietrich are probably just the most widely known – with Pola more or less forgotten these days, despite her having the longest and some would say greater artistic career.

Unfortunately, very few of Pola’s silent films are online. However, this short clip from her film “A Woman Of The World” shows indeed what a beauty she posessed, and not only that, what an incredibly engaging, sultry performer she was.

This clip of her is from “A Woman Commands” and shows her in an early sound role from 1932. It seems strange to finally hear her in all her glory but at the same time it’s such a treat. She had an incredibly powerful voice, one that would have been very well suited to lieder and the ilk, as you can see from this clip:

While many other film stars from the silent and early sound era had faded and died, or disappeared into obscurity, Pola did not. She may not have been as well known by the 1960s, but she was still working hard and acting. At the age of sixty seven (as she was in this clip from a film she made with the British actress Hayley Mills called “The Moonspinners”) she still looked so very beautiful, poised and elegant.

Her romances and her private life were often talked about as much as her work in cinema and theater. She had two unsuccessful marriages, one to Count Eugieniusz Dambski which lasted from 1919 to 1922 and then to Prince Serge Mdivani from 1927 to 1931. The latter marriage more than likely came on the rebound from her very public and highly charged relationship with The Sheik himself, Mr Rudolph Valentino.

The two had, according to Pola, been engaged to be married – this was despite him still being married to his wife Natasha Rambova at the time. The one thing Pola is probably best remembered for outside of her film making is her very public display of grief at his funeral after his untimely death in 1926.

Pola never got the chance to be a mother despite becoming pregnant during her second marriage. The resulting miscarriage put an end to both the relationship and Pola’s dreams of becoming a parent.

She worked consistently through the 1930s and 1940s and made one last film in 1964, long after many other actresses of the silent era had fallen from grace. After that, she lived in peaceful retirement – though took some time to write her autobiography “Pola Negri – Memoirs of a Star”.

Pola died in 1987 in San Antonio, Texas at the ripe old age of 90 years old. A true Polish star, who should never be forgotten for all she did and who never forgot her roots.

Do następnego razu… (Till next time…)

True, there are many out there, especially women, who are very into knitting or crocheting but it seems to me that this time passion got a little bit bigger for Olek, real name Agata Oleksiak, a young woman born in Poland, currently living in NYC. It all started as a method of relaxation that soon became a form of art or, as she herself admits, a way of conveying the inseparability of life and art.

“Life and art are inseparable. The movies I watch while crocheting influence my work, and my work dictates the films I select. I crochet everything that enters my space. Sometimes it’s a text message, a medical report, found objects. There is the unraveling, the ephemeral part of my work that never lets me forget about the limited life of the art object and art concept. What do I intend to reveal? You have to pull the end of the yarn and unravel the story behind the crochet.”

Olek’s art may be shocking at first but is a real wake-up call for those willing to admire here work. Bursting with color, most of the times intentionally used “in conflict”, the works of art in which she has put an immense amount of effort and passion convey an image of the world that can only be seen through the eyes of an artist. Her crocheting varies from costumes for film or theater to large pieces meant to give a new image to an abandoned house, a Polish WWII bunker or the windows of the public boat in Istanbul, just to give a few examples.

She has created crocheted and knitted artworks around the world. What an original art! Looks just amazing! She says the intensive nature of her work often finds herself alone for days. “I feel like somebody, or rather something glued the hook with crazy clue to my fingers. A loop after a loop. Hour after hour my madness becomes crochet. Life and art are inseparable.” Take a look:

Olek is celebrating her decade of crochet art in an exhibition, which started July 20th 2012 at the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington DC.

Check out her web:

http://agataolek.com/home.html

Do następnego razu… (Till next time…)