Simon Stephens
Birdland
Drama of the SNT Maribor
Première 10 March 2017, Old Hall, Slovene National Theatre Maribor
Running time 1 hour 50 minutes. No interval.
Director Janusz Kica
Translator Zdravko Duša
Set designer Marko Japelj
Costume designer Doris Kristić
Composer Kyrre Kvam
Choreographer Valentina Turcu
Language consultant Janez Bostič
Video artist Žiga Kranjc
Assistant to director Mateja Kokol
Assistant language consultant Mojca Kolar
Cast
Paul Branko Jordan
Johnny Vladimir Vlaškalić
Annalisa Eva Kraš
Marnie Nika Rozman
Lucy Mirjana Šajinović
Madeline Mojca Simonič
Jenny Ana Urbanc
David Kristijan Ostanek
Louis Matija Stipanič
Luc Jurij Drevenšek
Sophie Irena Mihelič
Marc Davor Herga
Martin Matevž Biber
Claudie Maša Žilavec
Nicola Živa Selan as guest
Alistair Miloš Battelino
Richer Nejc Ropret
Evans Mateja Pucko
Simon Stephens, one of the most renowned authors of British contemporary theatre, named his play Birdland after the 1975 song by the American punk rock legend Patti Smith. Inspired by rock music, Stephens shaped his play as a journey through the modern world where the single standard of human life is success marked by stardom and money. The protagonist of the play is Paul, a rock star who spends his days on concert tours, going from one city to another, from one hotel to another, from one chick to another. Thus, rather than a rock star, Paul is a star of decadence and instant pleasures, two of the greatest values in the epoque reigned by the culture of narcissism and the death of human interrelations. Yet Paul, seemingly having all the freedom in the world to do what he wants to do, has no more freedom than the ordinary mortals caught in their daily lives. He is practically enslaved to his record label, since he owes it so much money that it has a firm grip on him. To the outside world, Paul seems like one who has everything, while in reality, he has nothing but his short-lived moments of wantonness.
Branko Jordan’s Paul, the star of the new age on his (eternal) world tour, is a diabolic ego-maniac on the self-destructive spiral downfall from a rock icon to a financial and ethical mess. Witnessing this reality show starring a wanton and perverse destroyer of everything and everybody represents noth a special kind of pleasure and torment.
Melita Forstnerič Hajnšek, Večer, 13 March 2017