Page 167 [167]
IMRE KERÉNYI: STEPHEN THE KING, 1985
patriotism, tried to be suppressed before.*’® Moreover, it did so within the
institutional framework of theatre, and by means of theatre, i.e. by “dissecting
situations"§ and revealing the ambivalence of the conflict between Stephen
and Koppany. At the time of the legendary shows of the Rock Theatre, this
helped the National make a resounding success** with which it could rival the
Madach Theatre, whose premiere of Cats (1983) became an unprecedented
sensation, and the Vig Theatre, whose Kelemen Kémiives (a rock ballad
also by Szörenyi and Brödy, opened in 1982) tried to revive the long series
of An Imaginary Report on an American Rock Festival, a highly acclaimed
musical by Gäbor Presser, Anna Adamis and Sändor Pös, based on Tibor
Dery’s short novel (1973).51°
816 This caused some confusion, which most critics tried to dismiss by legitimizing the
production, answering the question “what makes the National Theatre produce this play?”
(István Gábor: István, a király. Rockopera a Nemzeti Színházban, Magyar Nemzet, Vol.
48, No. 228, 28" September, 1985, 8.) The daily Magyar Nemzet found the play worthy of
being staged at the National, since “this rock opera is the folk theatre of our time, far from
being pejorative”. (Ibid.) According to Film Színház Muzsika, "its spirit befits the ideal that
a national theatre embraces”. (László Fábián: Leng a zászló, Film Színház Muzsika, Vol. 29,
No. 39, 284 September, 1985, 5.) Népszava stated that the mise-en-scéne made a good reason
for the presence of the play on the National’s stage because of its “fundamentally different
approach than previous attempts”. (Istvan Takacs: A déntés drämäja, Népszava, Vol. 113,
No. 225, 25'* September, 1985, 6.) The director himself added that the play deals with our
state foundation and “represents a political model that [...] has been repeated in our history
several times”, so the National Theatre must also deal with it. (Petôfi Radio, 10:45 a.m., 23°
September, 1985.)
817 Petöfi Radio, 10:45 a.m., 23" September, 1985.
818 The National Theatre “was preparing for one of the most remarkable undertakings in recent
decades". (Tibor Fábián: István, a király a Nemzetiben, Pesti Műsor, Vol. 34, No. 37, 25"
September, 1985, 9.). Great expectations were increased by a press conference organized
as a festive occasion and by the fact that Stephen the King opened the 1985-1986 season of
the theatre on 21‘ September, the holiday of Hungarian drama. Consequently, the National
Theatre had broken with “the centuries-old tradition of opening its season with Bank Ban
and endingit with [Mihály] Vörösmarty Csongor and Tünde". (M.G.P.: Két zenés darabról,
Kritika 23:11 [1985], 35.)
It was noted in a program of Kossuth Radio (Gondolatjel at 11:00 a.m. on 15" December
1985.) that the gueue in front of the box office on Hevesi Sándor Sguare was extraordinary,
since "it was a long time ago, if there had been a time lately, when tickets had been sold out
for years in advance for a series at the National”. (Transcript for the Hungarian Theatre
Museum and Institute.)
819