Bodor Ferenc: Coffee-Houses - Our Budapest (Budapest, 1992)

Színház (theatre)

Not too far from the Nemzeti Színház (National Theatre) that is always changing address, a misleading sign proclaims Színház Espresso. The neon letters have long since disintegrated, the refined theatre-loving public replaced by the witnesses of the area’s change-for-the-worse: kids, taxidrivers, traok-suited unemployed. Their tipple is local wine and import Schwechater beer; every now and then they stand up from their tables to try their luck with the one-armed bandits. No point to lie in wait for an autograph from the famous dramatic actor or the croony-voiced tragedienne — a couple of perspiring stagehands may drop in at the most, in between castle walls as it were. The say Básti himself once came in for a shot of cognac, but that episode has already been written up by the Theatrical Institute. Still, to have a skanzen capable of kindling proletarian joys on the corner of Almássy tér is no small matter these days.

60 WESSELÉNYI UTCA VII.

3*

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