KOMUNKA
way of living
SINCE 1917
SYNOPSIS
Focus of play: the exposure of a macho culture, that is Russian culture, today based on a kind of ‘survival of the fittest’ corrupt capitalism model. The culture is sexist and gay hating (as those two things go together) and the people in this play have various relationships to sexism and gay hating.
On the one side is Alex and Olga Vladimirovna who both see the corruption of present day Russian culture and oppose it. On the other side are Max and Sasha who are male, heterosexual, and desperately trying to take advantage of the corrupt culture and rise up in it. In the middle are Stas and Masha, both of whom are trapped – in Russia and -- in sexism (Masha) and homophobia (Stas).
The play is about the possible awakening of both Masha and Stas, and the possibility that either of them might break free of Russia, sexism and homophobia.
It all started with a poem
We chose words which were used by politicians in their advice on wht to do with gays in Russia.
H E A R T B E A T
Beat them
Arrest them
Cure them
Whip them
Burn their hearts
Kill them
Them
Him
Her
Us
Me
Beat me
Arrest me
Cure me
Whip me
Kill me
Burn my heart
My heart loves
Them
Him
Her
Us
Me
My heart loves
My heart
Heart.
FOUR BOYS
Four boys,
Four boys in a kids’ playground,
Four boys in a kids’ playground drinking beer,
Two and a half bottles of beer.
Four boys are talking, and laughing,
Four boys are talking, laughing, and drinking beer.
Four boys are talking, laughing, drinking beer, and kicking stones.
Seven stones.
Four boys talking in kid’s playground.
Four boys are laughing, drinking beer, kicking stones.
One boy says he is gay.
Three boys beat him, rape him with two and a half bottles of beer, and smash his head with seven stones.
One boy, two and a half bottles of beer, seven stones.
Two and a half bottles of beer.
Seven stones.
One boy.
Boy.