The Pillowman at T. Schreiber Theatre

Writing stories is not a crime, at least, as one of the cops points out, if one respects some “restrictions“, better, some “guidelines” for the security of the state. Katurian is conciliatory, but he gets excited when he defends his right to write, because «the first duty» or «the only duty of a storyteller is to tell a story». Horrified, he finds out that some of the crimes in town very similar to those described in his stories have been committed and the police is inclined to think that the writer himself is involved in these events or that the mere story writing has a striking impact and criminal value.
Writing is neither right nor wrong, it is simply an urgency – something that happens beyond good and evil. The same need is shared by one of the torturers who, at a certain point, tells Katurian one of his stories. If this character didn’t stir horror, he’d almost cause tenderness for the pride he feels about his story. Who knows, maybe agent Tupolski is, deep inside, jealous of Katurian‘s talent. Power fears, envies and suffers the sight of freedom.

The Pillowman is given to the skilful direction of Peter Jensen, Artistic Director of T. Schreiber Studio, who says he picked this pièce for the message at the end, that we choose to go on living despite or knowledge that life will be painful.
The leading character is played Josh Marcantel, who gives Katurian something very humane, tender, that evokes benevolence from the audience, and goes beyond the veil of condescension that Katurian has on paper. Very convincing is the performance of Alexei Bondar, too, in the role of the protagonist’s brother.

There is no catharsis, nor any educational intent in The Pillowman. There’s no search for liberation or redemption, there’s no offer for easy solutions. The stakes are very high, life itself is in jeopardy, and what we leave behind, that is more important of our life, as Katurian, capable of any sacrifice to save his stories, shows.
The Pillowman describes what a powerful viaticum writing can be, and what is the price an artist is asked to pay in return for the impudence he shows in wanting to approach and decode a fragment of reality.