Director Ana Vukotić's graduation play "The Beauty Queen" is still just as relevant after 14 years. During November, it will be performed only once, on the Great Stage of the CNP, on Monday, November 19. Marta Pićurić, Ana Vujošević, Dejan Ivanić and Momčilo Otašević play in this production of the play "The Beauty Queen".
"The Beauty Queen" is a story about mentality, more precisely about the family life of two lonely women who are doomed to each other, and actress Ana Vukotić tells more about this play for Vijesti.
The play "The Beauty Queen" was performed for the first time in 2004. What is it like to play the same text for 14 years?
When the show is great, when both the actors and the audience love it, it's a pleasure to play it year after year. "The Beauty Queen" is justifiably the most performed play in the national theater, and its fourteenth season is underway.
Is there a difference when the play is played on the Studio Stage or in the Great Hall, which do you prefer?
Given that the play was created on the Studio Stage, we are most pleased with the performances in that environment, but it is certainly useful for us and the play to adapt to different stage spaces.
There was a change in the original line-up, so Dragica Tomas was replaced by Marta Pićurić after she passed away, while Momčilo Otašević plays Zoran Vujović in the play. How much did Marta put her stamp on the show and what was it like for you to play without Dragica in the beginning?
Marta Pićurić is a wonderful actress, who with her energy and dedication easily fit into 'our little family'. The exceptional Dragica Tomas certainly marked the show, we thought that her departure would be the end of the "Beauty Queen", but to our joy the show is still alive.
This is a story about mentality, playing it these 14 years, how much have we changed and improved?
This dramatic text by Oscar-winner Martin McDonagh is a universal family story about the relationship between a possessive mother and a confused daughter, which in this form is somehow typical of all environments. Unfortunately, we can change and progress, but such cases, i.e. there will always be disturbed relationships in the family. Thanks to the clever and successful adaptation of the play by director Ana Vukotić, the play is really close to our audience.
You also played it in other ex-Yu cities, winning awards at festivals. Where were the best reactions after the play?
We have been on many tours, won awards and delighted the audience. There is no difference in reactions. We experienced standing ovations both in the region and in distant Russia (Perm). The simplicity and sincerity in the acting expression of our small cast excites the audience, and the subject is intriguing and sensitive enough to concern us.
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