Anna Brigadere’s comedy “Čaukstenes” staged in Jelgava
The Adolfs Alunāns Jelgava Theatre has presented Anna Brigadere’s one-act comedy “Čaukstenes” at the Adolfs Alunāns Museum. The small hall was completely full at the premiere.
The premiere of Anna Brigadere’s comedy “Čaukstenes” has taken place in Jelgava, at the Adolfs Alunāns Museum. The production was created by the Adolfs Alunāns Jelgava Theatre. It is a one-act play about the foibles and quirks of high-society ladies. Seating at the museum is always limited, and the small auditorium was completely full at the premiere.
The play was written in 1907, more than 100 years ago. The director is Dzintra Zimaiša, under whom the work has gained a topical and humorous interpretation.
What the play is about
The title word “čaukstenes” does not refer to gossips or whisperers. It describes ladies well known in local society, each with her own sense of being right, her own convictions and a sense of her own importance. Although the author’s portrayal and dialogue are ironic, the characters are not malicious: they make audiences laugh and follow the latest gossip and events along with them.
The production relies on witty dialogue and feminine characters, while the comic situations reveal the ladies’ weaknesses.
Old and new
The costumes recall the previous century, but the characters’ inner world resembles that of some present-day women. Then and now, wealth, a home in a prestigious location, an influential family and a good husband are considered values.
