And the ship sails on

When in 1914 the ship with distinguished guests leaves the port in Naples, no one expects the impending catastrophe. The cruise is attended by people, who want to fulfill the last wish of the deceased opera singer, Edmea Tetua and say goodbye to her during the sea expedition, crowned with the spreading of ashes. The mourning journey in a circle of the upper crust, seems to be a bittersweet cluster of vanity and luxury, jealousy and buffoonery. It is the Federico Fellini’s move, the master of playing with image and word, who in the film “And the ship sails on”, invites to the kingdom of exuberant personalities. Enamored with opera, sophisticated food and beautiful costumes, passengers boarding the luxurious transatlantic ship, don’t sense that the decline of the world they got used to, has just begun.

Federico Fellini’s film “And the ship sails on” was made in 1983, now the director Wojciech Kościelniak transfers the image of the Italian master into the framework of musical and opera art. Both, in the case of the Italian and Polish artist, the maritime background is complemented by scenography and costumes referring to 1914. The retail splendor seems to represent the unsinkable status quo of a spoiled aristocracy, taking advantage of the immunity of power unrestrainedly. The elite expedition is unexpectedly disrupted by the news, that there are Serbian refugees on the board. In Sarajevo, archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary, has just been murdered. While the passengers of a luxurious ship enjoy the comforts of social status, the world in which they acquired these privileges, is irreversibly ending. There is no emergency exit from both, the devastating World War One and the ship, richly filled with relics of a disappearing reality.

Unexpectedly, there is a change of epochs, accompanied by a degradation of the achievements of generations. Distressing news, however, seems distant for the passengers of the ocean expedition, busy with their affairs that are happening in their microworld. The breath of love and little romance can be sensed as well as a competition for the title of the best opera voice, lost identities, great longing. The deck of the ship is a floating dance floor for a ball of expressive personalities, on which everyone, secretly or on the contrary, would like to lead. Everything is observed by the ghost of Edmea Tetua, listening to conversations about herself, which are full of discrepancies in the assessment of her person. Did Edmea Tetua shape her identity and legend on the opinions of others? Or maybe the bold statements of her admirers say more about themselves than about an outstanding singer?

The musical “And the ship sails on” directed by Wojciech Kościelniak, was created on the basis of the script co-written by Federico Fellini and Tonino Guerra. The music for the performance was composed by Mariusz Obijalski, the choreography was created by Mateusz Pietrzak, and the stage design by Mariusz Napierała. The costumes were designed by Martyna Kander, and the lighting was directed by Tadeusz Trylski. The musical direction has been taken over by Adam Skrzypek.

 

The license for the adaptation of the film script “E la nave va” written by Federico Fellini and Tonino Guerra was granted by the ZAiKS Author’s Association.