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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
