Krum, according to press notes, centers on the "return of Krum, the prodigal son, to the delight of his mother and friends. He returns home as a failure to a community suffering from widespread resignation, loneliness, and apathy. Krum soon succumbs to the pervasive malaise; he becomes a passive observer of the persistent rhythm of marriages, births, and funerals that have become so devoid of significance that weddings resemble wakes. The characters in Krum are willing to endure great sacrifice and humiliation to escape from their solitude, but time and again they surrender to passivity. Having lost all of his youthful passion, Krum is forced to confront his own mortality and unfulfilled desires instead of sinking further into a static life."
The cast of Krum is comprised of Jacek Poniedzialek, Malgorzata Rolniatowska, Magdalena Cielecka, Malgorzata Hajewska-Krzysztofik, Anna Radwan-Gancarczyk, Danuta Stenka, Redbad Klijnstra, Marek Kalita, Zygmunt Malanowicz, Adam Nawojczyk, Pawel Kruszelnicki and Miron Hakenbeck.
Hanoch Levin, whose works are rarely produced in the U.S., is considered one of Israel's leading playwrights. Levin's prolific work ranges from satirical cabarets, domestic comedies and tragedies to highly controversial politically themed works. His controversial play, The Queen of the Bathtub, would come under sharp criticism from then Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir as well as the public. Upon his death in 1999, Levin was hailed as "one of the greatest playwrights that Israel has ever had" by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak.
Performed in Polish with English subtitles, Krum is directed by Krzysztof Warlikowski and features set and costume design by Malgorzata Szczesniak and lighting design by Felice Ross.
Krzysztof Warlikowski previously made his U.S. directorial debut with The Dybbuk for the 2004 Next Wave Festival at BAM. With TR Warszawa, he recently staged Tony Kushner's Angels in America for the Festival d'Avignon. Krum will play BAM's Harvey Theater through Oct. 20. Tickets are available by calling (718) 636-4100 or by visiting www.BAM.org.
