Kovács Ferenc: Olvasópróba előtt (Skenotheke 1. Budapest, 1996)

Felhasznált irodalom

The darkened, quiet auditorium evokes the lingering emptiness of the Borkman mansion. The stage is divided into two distinct parts. On the left-hand side, a flat staircase leads from the auditorium to a 2 meterhigh second floor situated to the rear of the stage. The staircase gradually widens until it occupies one-third of the stage. The remaining two-thirds of the stage serve to depict events occurring on the first floor of the Borkman mansion. Two persons are discernible on the stage. It is evening and the lights have not been turned on yet in the mansion. On the second floor Borkman is pacing restlessly. He is alert to every footstep, every sound made by a passing coach in the street: he is expecting someone, or perhaps several people. They must be persons of standing if he deems it important to honour them by wearing a jacket The audience can hear noises from the street. (Stereo is used to represent, for example, a sleigh with jingling bells crossing from left to right. It also represents persons approaching the Borkman residence. First, footsteps are heard, followed by an exchange of words, and then visitors appear in person at the entrance of the house.) Borkman remains visible on the second floor during the entire first act, but cannot be aware of the events taking place on the first floor. He paces feverishly, although not aimlessly as a caged "sick wolf," but rather because his notes, models, and plans are scattered throughout his diminished "empire." The entire leftside of this "empire," including the background, is a bookshelffortress reaching to the ceiling, full of books lying in disarray. He is perusing these, making notes which he then attaches to the book with a paper clip. (The paper clips are large, visible and handy - a Norwegian invention.) Whenever he hears footsteps, he believes that someone has come to seek his advice and assistance. He then picks up some of the notes, though it is not clear whether he does it at random, or systematically. The first floor scene is situated on the right and occupies two thirds of the stage. Recessed along a diagonal line from the left, there is a glass door. Through the door and nearby windows are seen a wintergarden, a porch and a garden beyond. The entrance to the first floor - Mrs Borkman's living room - is to the front left along a diagonally placed wall connected to the main entrance through a hallway. To the right, in the corner there is a couch - also placed diagonally - as well as a sewing table with Mrs Borkman's sewing kit and chrochet work. This is her headquarters. It is from here that she keeps an eye on visitors from the outside world while apparently paying no attention to what is going on inside the house. Her exclusive concern is with the outside. In front of the couch there is a tea table with chairs. In the middle of the left wall there