Bereczky Erzsébet (szerk.): Imre Madách: The Tragedy of Man. Essays about the ideas and the directing of the Drama (Budapest, 1985)
László Vámos: Open-air Performances of The Tragedy of Man
In the last scene the Host of Angels and the Lord re-appear, and we have again the framework of a mystery play: Heaven, Earth (Adam and Eve) and Hell (Lucifer), in other words, the framework which justifies the Cathedral Spuare performance of the Tragedy. In speaking the words the actors are asked to attach very great importance to clear enunciation, beauty and logical rhythm of phrasing, and a lofty but non-declamatory style of speech. I regard the Tragedy as an intellectual work with a philosophy well in advance of its times, but I think its style and form, and its instructions bear nonetheless the imprint of romanticism. The complete cast, the extras, the chorus, the dance ensemble and the orchestra add up to about a thousand persons whom each performance mobilizes. In this way the production calls for about five-thousand costumes. From the leading actors down to the stage-hands everyone of this big cast entered the spirit of the big open-air production with the aspiration to do their best. It takes, indeed, ambition and enthusiasm to bring off a big, largescale project like the Tragedy on Cathedral Square in Szeged. (1965) 60
