"The Caucasian Chalk Circle" is a play written by Bertolt Brecht in 1944, during the midst of World War II. The play is a parable that explores themes of justice, power, and morality through the story of a young girl named Grusha and her struggle to protect a child who is not her own.
The play begins with a prologue that sets the stage for the story to come. The prologue introduces the concept of the "Caucasian Chalk Circle," a metaphor for the circle of justice that must be followed in order to make the right decisions. The prologue also introduces the character of the Singer, who serves as a narrator and commentator throughout the play.
The main story follows Grusha, a young servant who is forced to flee her home during a time of political upheaval. Along the way, she comes across a child, Michael, who has been abandoned by his wealthy parents in the chaos. Grusha takes pity on the child and decides to protect him, despite the danger it poses to her own safety.
As Grusha and Michael journey together, they encounter a variety of characters who represent different aspects of society and power. There is the Governor, who represents the corrupt and abusive use of power, and his wife, who is selfish and manipulative. There is also the wealthy merchant Simon, who represents the greed and selfishness that often drives people's actions.
Despite the many challenges and dangers they face, Grusha remains determined to protect Michael and do what is right. In the end, she is able to prove her worth as a mother and is awarded custody of the child in a court of law, using the metaphor of the "Caucasian Chalk Circle" to argue her case.
Overall, "The Caucasian Chalk Circle" is a powerful and thought-provoking play that raises important questions about justice, power, and morality. The story of Grusha and Michael is a poignant reminder of the importance of standing up for what is right, even in the face of adversity. The play's themes and message continue to resonate with audiences today, making it a classic and enduring work of theatre.
Review
Unlike Solomon's story though, "Caucasian Chalk Circle" provides a new definition of "real motherhood", which is not necessarily biology. As the reasoning goes the judge awards the child to the woman who didn't attempt to remove the child for fear of harming it. It is fueled by impressive command of characters along with a big dose of imagination. Brecht's statements about class are cloaked in the innocence of a fable that whispers insistently to the audience. Davis, Mary Testa, Tom Riis Farrell, Jason Babinsky, Deb Radloff, Alex Hurt Playwright: Bertolt Brecht Translators: James Stern, Tania Stern Director: Brian Kulick Set designer: Tony Straiges Costume designer: Anita Yavich Lighting designer: Justin Townsend Sound designer: Matt Kraus Presented by the Classic Stage Company. April Beiswenger of the faculty is the visual whiz in the creative corps. At the core is a story leading to a question: Who deserves a child more, his birth mother or the woman whose care has scaled jeopardy? Three distinct themes run through this work.
The Caucasian Chalk Circle: Theater Review
The Caucasian Chalk Cirle threads together two conflicts regarding the ownership of farmed land after the second world war, and uses sly morals to show how power drives people to do insane things as in the ancient Chinese tale "The Circle of Chalk" Brecht's plays usually used ideas from ancient fables. This is evident from his usage of the book, a symbol of intellect, justice and structure, as his stool instead of his guide to the law and the basis of his judgement. It was a sort of play within a play, with a chorus of singers and poetry woven into it, which I enjoyed, but it seemed to be very disjointed plot wise. Beaton's translation is respectful, but seems to avoid a potentially thrilling tussle between Brecht and one of the sharpest satirical intellects of our own age. The ending is subtly brilliant in the sense that the outcome of the contest is subject to semantic debate whether you think the judgment is fair or logical or contradictory depends on how closely you read the judge's words , but also in the question of irony or sincerity in the suggestion that true justice will be conferred by nature rather than by man.
