Māra Zālīte

SMIĻĢIS

A performance about what it means to be a genius: the right to be different. A performance about the destiny of genius: to be great, admired, adored and ultimately tragically alone. A performance also about the women behind the great artist, without whom his artistic and personal life might have been quite different, as is often the fate of powerful men.

Mara Zalite’s latest play begins with the conception of Dailes Theatre in the mind of Edward Smilgis, followed by the creation of the theatre, his phenomenal success, and his ability to survive through historic times, culiminating in the tragic end of a brilliant life.

Edward Smilgis was not only the founder of Dailes Theatre, but also an innovative director and “actor of power and ecstasy” and a conflict-torn genius who, like a chameleon, changed his nature depending on the woman he loved at the time or the prevailing power. Through two acts the drama tries to figure out what lies behind Smilgis’ thousand masks, and what price the genius has to pay for the ability to make theatre, to love and cause pain in a manner far beyond the margins of the average man.

The performance is part of Latvia's one hundred years programme.