In Etiquette we are searching for perfection. Though there is no sense in perfection itself, unless you are
able to show it.
The viewers arrive as guests to someone’s home but it all turns into an absurd lesson on common
courtesy. Or rather a round trip in the hidden, instinctive chambers or our brains. Through lust, gobbling,
stomping and duels we’ll learn the appropriate way of anxiousness, behavior, compliance – while
preserving the highest degree of political correctness and politeness.
We observe the two main characters, Martin Boross and Julia Jakubowska as if they were existing inside a
terrarium. We follow the instructions via headphones of a mysterious voice, who helps us become like
what we wish to be seen as, by others and by ourselves – as actors, as men and women, as humans.
However, the voice often leads the potential perfect humans astray.
Reviews:
STEREO Akt does not let you just to watch. It asks you a questions. Crawls inside you. Makes you do
things. ”Etikett” is about the imperfections of man as a human being, hidden in the role of the spectator.
Questions make them come up though. The safe environment of theatre is gone, the play becomes real.
This makes the situation really exciting.
(Kiss Csaba, http://www.prae.hu/article/8992-lehull-az-alarc/)
We always want something else what is given. Or at least circumstances that are ideally composed in
everyday life and “stage life” as well. With Martin Boross, STEREO Akt continuously challenges our
expectations like this with great success in “Etikett”.
(Csatádi Gábor, http://www.potszekfoglalo.hu/2016/03/16/tokeletlen-tokeletesseg/)
If in the evening, when we close the door behind us, and no one sees us, we shout at our children, hit our
wives, leave the trash around, piss into to tub and swear loud. Meanwhile we care too much about
ourselves. We imagine, that our life is a movie. But it is not true. It is not a movie, and even if it was, no
one would watch it. Because it’s boring. Because it’s petty. Because it’s miserable. Because, even if we do
not want it, we make mistakes, mistakes that make us feel ashamed. Because even if we do not want it
we make errors, and we are ashamed about the fact that no one is infallible.
http://thealter.hu/magyar/2016/blog/694
In spite of the idea of social norms, it conceals the persistent imperfection of a living person, by claiming
that it exposes perfect human beings, meanwhile it shows themselves as a weak, frail and ordinary
reflection. (Kovács Natália: Íme az ember, Élet és Irodalom)
Creators, Actors:
Martin Boross, Jakubowska Julia
Narrator: Sándor Terhes
Text: Martin Boross, Gáspár Téri
Voice-design, music: Márk Bartha, Szabolcs Tóth
Scenography: Eszter Kálmán
Lights: Gábor Kocsis
Technical support: Márk Szapu
Dramaturg, production assistant: Gáspár Téri
Production assistant: Brigitta Varga
Producer: Anikó Rácz
Director: Martin Boross
Supported by:
Staféta, Budapest Főváros Önkormányzata, Füge Produkció, Emberi Erőforrások Minisztériuma, Nemzeti Kulturális Alap, Jurányi Produkciós Közösségi Inkubátorház, Ludwig Múzeum
photos: Máté Bartha