Two words about the show "Arturo Ui"

Bekim Lumi

The 21st century, on our flip side, is the century of Arturo Uisa. Despite the turmoil it may cause you, you know his face very well. Before you see it in the theater, you see it every day on TV screens. Even, tragically, in our daily lives. You, for many years, are used to his strange face. So much so, perhaps, that you are not even impressed. You see the face of Arturo Uisa and his gangsters not only in Kosovo, but all over the world. In their original appearance or even in the form of a statue.

"Arturo Ui" was written in 1941 by the outstanding German and world playwright and director Bertolt Brecht (1898 - 1956) during his three-week exile in Helsinki (Finland). At that time, he was persecuted by fascism and was waiting for a visa to immigrate to the USA. Although the events of this play are centered in Chicago and Cicero, USA, they are, in fact, a metaphorical allusion to the dramatic events of that time in Austria and Germany. As such, with its form, content, spirit and itself, this drama symbolically describes, thematizes and reflects the violent history of the seizure of economic and political power by the gangster Arturo Ui (alias Adolf Hitler) and his followers in the 30s of the 20th century. Physical violence, looting, burnings, robberies, extortion, extortion and threats against merchants, politicians and journalists, even their murders, alibis and farce trials, violent coercion and blackmailing of witnesses of crime, are just some of the scenes in this drama.

Themselves, such as the gangster Arturo Ui and his subordinates, such as: Ernesto Roma, Emanuel Gjiri and Giuseppe Xhivola, or his subordinates, such as the politician and businessman Dogsboru, or the owner of the newspaper Injac Dëlfit, as well as merchants and owners of the Cauliflower Trust, these are all skillfully carved characters. With their actions and the events they go through, they shape the complete mosaic of the career and the sensational and violent history of a political gangster and his gang. And, unlike what we have seen in other theaters outside of Kosovo, where usually the main role of the gangster Arturo Ui is played by older and more experienced actors, in this show this anthological role, for many reasons, and above all because of talent and energy of age, was entrusted to the 27-year-old actor, Bujar Ahmeti.

Because of the subject matter it deals with and because of its continued topicality, this drama is connected to many of the trends and developments around the world. And, tragically, with post-war Kosovo and beyond. As such, it is regarded as one of the best political and historical satires of the 20th century. "Arturo Ui" has never been staged in Kosovo until now. This year, in addition to the artistic and aesthetic goals, there are at least two more reasons to stage it: the 120th anniversary of the birth of Bertolt Brecht and the 20th anniversary of the art and creativity of director Bekim Lumi.

PS I dedicate this show to my artist friends, other known and unknown friends and all those who, with their support and efforts, helped me and gave me more courage and confidence than me, despite the difficult state of health, I'm able to keep working and fighting and doing this show. I trust the theater! Thank you!