Thursday October 25th 2007 Supraski

The Fortress

Dasia, Mom, & Pawel In Supraski

Pawel's Parents House in Bialystok

The Church

No Diesel Costs

The Devil From Prague: the Enchanted City

Pawel Vangeli and Christopher

Thursday I attended a performance at Teatr Lalek by Pawel Vangeli entitled Prague: the Enchanted City. Pawel Vangeli is from Prague and tells the many tale of Prague. His theatre is reminiscent of the traveling Commedia Del Arte artists and has the look and feel of days past. Pawel’s website provides a detailed storyline. Prague: the Enchanted City is the adventurous journey of the little boy Christopher and his magic uncle Albert through an enchanted city. Old houses, palaces, and churches open their doors, windows, and walls when uncle Albert knocks on them. Together they encounter colorful characters that evoke the atmosphere of Medieval and Renaissance Prague. An astronomer, a crazy alchemist, and a mystic represent the Czech, German and Jewish cultures that especially influenced this city. Ghosts, devils, and a supernatural creature are Also encountered in their attempt to discover various secrets of the city. Little Christopher gets dangerously caught up in this magical underworld and just manages to escape with the assistance of his uncle Albert. Suddenly the situation completely changes and Christopher is the only one who can save Prague from a dangerous monster.

In an after show interview Pawel related that he was trained in the Academy in Prague but his real training came from years spent performing on the streets of Prague. He has written this show and the puppets and scenery were designed and built by Robert Smolik, also of Prague. The puppets also contribute to the look and medieval feel of the piece. Mr. Smolik’s designs and carvings are also very unique. The performance utilizes Rod Puppets, Marionettes, and a very ingenious puppet that juggle balls and another representing the Devil, featuring a head that flies up above the puppet.

Pawel Vangeli's Website

In the afternoon following a light lunch at Café Lalek of cheese and potato Pierogys (which are THE BEST in Bialystok) I met Pawel, Dasia, and Pawel’s Mother and proceeded to Supraski which is a small village not far from Wasilkow where Pawel and Dasia reside. We arrived at the Ikon museum in time for the last tour. We shared the expense of a guide with another group of visitors. The museum is free and is located at the monastery in Supraski. The museum is less that a year old and features a very large collection of ikons dating from 1405 to the present time. The museum is housed in one of the existing building on the grounds and is set up in a why that gives the feel of days long ago including chanting and very specific lighting effects. All of this yields a feeling of theatre in its presentation of the ikons. Some of the rooms are darkened when you enter and the ikons seem to appear and then disappear into thin air. This lighting and sound adds to the experience and to the understand that the ikons are not merely paintings but religious artifacts that lead one to contemplation of the world beyond. The tour lasted a full hour and the very knowledgeable guide provided many insights to the ikons. When we finished our tour we drove to the land that Pawel’s brother has purchased and then returned to Pawel’s parents house for a fine dinner accompanied by nalafka. In a few short hours I was dozing in my apartment due to the effects of the nalafka. It was indeed a wonderful day.

Monastery Supraski Website

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