Jalu kurka wodna. A pragmatic dramatic play in 3 tumors with deathly innards and the misunderstandings resulting therefrom. A review of Witkacy’s non-existent dramatic play, with numerous allusions and annotations

Abstract

The article is an elaboration on the review of one staging of a dramatic play by Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz publishe in “Jadąmośki Literackie” – a one-time publication by “Wiadomości Literackie” in the middle of 1926, which is an auto-anti-Semitic joke of “circumcised editors” gifted with exceptional sense of humor. The issue contained parodies, auto-parodies, texts mocking the pre-war world, with Witkacy himself being strongly referred to. On the first page, there was a portrait of “Miecio” – Mieczysław Grydzewski, the editor of “Wiadomości Literackie”, signed: “Miecio. The amateur photography by St. Pieńkowski was taken in the facilities of »Myśl Narodowa« according to instructions by St. I. Witkiewicz. C+H+A+Ł+A+T”.

            The review appeared on page 4 of “Jadąmośki” in the “Theatrical movement” section, and was decorated with a picture of a head resembling Antoni Słonimski (who was most probably the author of the review). Witkacy suspected Tadeusz Sinka, who was a theatre critic known for his malice, which is confirmed, for instance, by Witkacy’s letter to Sinka from 14 July 1927. However, humoristic texts in “Jadąmośki Literackie” were signed with pseudonyms which mostly clearly indicated the authors, for example Tertuljan Tuwim or Jan Lichoń. Tolek Słonimer – the pseudonym of the author of the analyzed review – clearly points to Antoni Słonimski.