SZÉKELY, CSABA – BÁNYAVIRÁG

SZÉKELY, CSABA – BÁNYAVIRÁG

Mine Flowers

 (2011. Tragicomedy in 1 part. Characters: 3 men, 2 women.)

 ‘In spite of the unlucky fates and so much resignation Mine Flowers is not a sombre play. The strong presence of black humour helps us reflect on the world we live in from an adequate distance. It helps us wake up from the bitter sleep which leads the characters into damnation.’ – writes the author. The mine flower, as quartz mineral is sometimes called, occurs on the walls, pits, rifts of mines, usually transparent. In the former mining towns of Transylvania unemployment skyrocketed after the inevitable closure of the mines. Deep poverty and the lack of perspective drove many men into alcoholism and suicide. But still, life stubbornly creeps up. Iván Vajda, the protagonist of the play is unemployed since the mine closure. He lives together with his dying father, taking care of him out of necessity, obeying all his orders. A frequent guest of the house is Mihály Csillag the Chekhovian doctor, who grabs the vodka bottle with firmer hands than the stethoscope. Ilonka, Iván’s half sister came from the town, bringing along a long-unseen energy and joy to the life of the house. Her arrival has a strange perturbing effect on the mind of the locals, relationships becoming even more unusual. Is somebody able to mend the fate of a community who is full of life affirmation and love? Is there an escape or a solution to the big problems of life other than the rope, which befalls from one generation to the other like a weighty heritage.

Csaba SZÉKELY (1981-)

Although the young comet of the Transylvanian writer generation carries in himself, by birth and education, the characteristic Transylvanian mentality, he can still observe his environment critically. He does not patronize his characters but brings them to life with endless love and powerless compassion. Mine Water won the first prize at the drama competition of the Örkény István Theatre in 2012. He also won the prize for best script in the BBC Audio Drama Awards competition for his radio play Do You Like Bananas, Comrades? which had already received a prize in 2009 at the radio play contest published by BBC.