The Dumb Man

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An elderly man sits alone in his room, consumed by grief and alcohol, decades after his wife's death. Unable to accept her loss, he exists in a self-imposed limbo where memory and reality blur beyond recognition.

The stage divides into two worlds: his present isolation and the vivid recreation of his past - falling in love, marrying, and losing her when they were both young. Different actors inhabit each timeline, while a critic moves fluidly between both sides, relentlessly confronting the old man with truths he refuses to acknowledge.

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When three doctors arrive unexpectedly, claiming they must examine his deceased wife, the man insists she is alive in the room with him. The doctors, however, see only empty space where he perceives her presence. They become unwitting instruments of reality, forcing him toward the acceptance he has evaded for so long.

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Caught between the beauty of his memories and the unbearable weight of truth, the protagonist must finally choose: remain forever trapped in his beautiful delusion, or face the reality that will destroy him. In "The Dumb Man," acceptance and death become the same act of release.

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"The Dumb Man" was inspired by Sherwood Anderson's story "The Dumb Man," yet my adaptation moves beyond the source material to explore deeper philosophical territory.

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When I was conceptualizing the protagonist of "The Dumb Man," my creative process was deeply influenced by Aristotle's notions of tragedy and the tragic hero. I aimed to craft a character whose narrative arc resonates with the Aristotelian principles, yet also challenges and expands upon them in a contemporary context.

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Aristotle's tragic hero is a character of noble stature and greatness, yet flawed by a hamartia, or tragic flaw, that leads to their downfall. In creating the protagonist, I envisioned a modern tragic hero, one who embodies greatness not through nobility or stature, but through the depth of his emotional experience and the intensity of his love. His tragic flaw, however, is not hubris or excessive pride, but rather an overwhelming inability to confront and accept reality—a profound denial that stems from his unbearable grief.

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This denial, while serving as his hamartia, is also a deeply human response to loss, reflecting the complexities of grief that Aristotle's archetypes only begin to touch upon. I wanted to explore how this flaw does not just lead to his downfall in a classical sense but also traps him in a self-created purgatory, a liminal space between the living world and the realm of memories and illusions.

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In aligning with Aristotle's concept of catharsis, I intended for the audience to experience a purging of emotions through the protagonist's journey. Yet, the catharsis in "The Dumb Man" is not just about pity and fear; it's about understanding and empathy. It's about confronting our own denials and illusions, recognizing the protagonist's pain as a mirror to our own potential for self-deception in the face of loss.

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Moreover, Aristotle's emphasis on plot over character in tragedy influenced the way I structured the protagonist's narrative. While the plot is crucial, I endeavored to create a character whose psychological depth and emotional journey are equally pivotal to the story's impact. His descent into illusion, his interactions with other characters, and his ultimate release through death are all meticulously designed to offer a nuanced exploration of the human condition that goes beyond the Aristotelian framework, inviting the audience to reflect on the nature of reality, truth, and the mechanisms we employ to cope with life's inevitable sorrows.

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In this way, the protagonist of "The Dumb Man" is a dialogue with Aristotle's theories—a character born from the interplay of ancient principles and modern psychological insights, offering a fresh perspective on the age-old question of what it means to be a tragic hero in the contemporary world.

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Production Details

Cockpit Theatre, 2023

Cast: Michael Molino, Lana Helena Hulenic, Sam Perry, Adam Trussell, Takatsuna Mukai

Stage Design: Hardy Gru
Author/Director: Jagoda Kamov