Ministry of Cultural Warfare : Archives : The Vánek Trilogy

About the show

Three one-acts—Audience, Unveiling and Protest—written in the 1970s by Havel as a reaction to his punishments for speaking out against the communist government.

In Audience, Havel's autobiographical character Ferdinand Vánek (played in all three one-acts by Reid Knuttila) approaches his boss at a brewery. (It is important to understand that Havel himself was required to work at a brewery by the government—as a punishment and as a distraction for his work for human rights in Czechoslovakia.) The boss (Leigha Horton) gets drunker and drunker as the conversation goes on and on. Nepotism is flirted with, police are talked about and actresses are demanded.

In Protest, perhaps the most powerful piece in the trilogy, Vánek visits his friend and colleague writer Stanek (Surprenant). Stanek has taken a decidedly different course in his artistic career than Vánek. In short, Stanek has decided to play by the communist regime's rules. And he has been handsomely rewarded for it. Until, of course, Stanek finds his back up against a wall and he needs a well-practiced dissident to help him out.

Unveiling is about one evening Vánek shares with friends of his, a couple named Vera (Horton) and Michael (Nathan Surprenant). Vera and Michael are concerned for Vánek's future—and don't mind saying so. They have a new baby and a newly remodeled apartment and are more than happy to share this fantastic new bourgeois-bohemian lifestyle with their friend. The advice flows as they encourage Vánek to give up his political activities, get a different job (never mind that his brewery job is required by the state) and lead the good life.

Performed at 7 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, April 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23 and 24 at Bryant-Lake Bowl Theater, Minneapolis.

Reviews and press

We were on Minnesota Public Radio with this one. Don't have a recording. Shucks.

Cast and crew

Reid Knuttila
Ferdinand Vánek

Leigha Horton
The Foreman, Vera, producer

Nathan Surprenant
Michael, Stanek

Leah Cooper
Director

Matthew Foster
Producer, video editing and design