The most dangerous of beings

Poland's legendary veteran actor Daniel Olbrychski will be playing the lead role, and the performance should be of interest to all Shakespeare lovers. In a recent interview, Konczałowski, asked what kind of a man he envisions King Lear to be, replied: "Among all beings that populate the earth, there is no more dangerous one than man."

Konczałowski added that he believes Shakespeare did not seek to embody the spirit of his times, but rather pursued universal themes, a methodology Konczałowski himself has made his own. Commenting on whether his previous award winning work, Mad House, was a specific commentary on the situation in Chechnya, Konczałowski explained that it could just as well have been a commentary on the First World War. 

Daniel Olbrychski is currently celebrating his 60th birthday, and is excited about his latest role, saying that he feels the time is right to take on the personage of King Lear. Asked how we would interpret the king, Olbrychski merely cites Dostoevski on the irreducible mystery of the human being.

The play can be seen at the Teatr Na Woli im. Tadeusza Łomnickiego, Warszawa. Tel: 022-6320360