PEST NA OKO ANEB CAESAROVO FINALE: Pribeh o Divadle na Divadle o 19 Obrazech. Hudbu slozil Jaroslav Jezek. by Voskovec, Jiri [George]; Werich, Jan - 1938.

Praha: Fr. Borovy, 1938., 1938.. Very good. - Octavo, bound in light tan cloth with the original pictorial front wrapper bound in. There is some minor staining to the upper half of the spine with some very light pink staining to the rear cover along the spine. There is a small piece out of the top corner of the wrapper with 2 short tears. 130 pages plus colophon. Illustrated with 4 black-and-white plates which appear to depict the stage settings. The flyleaf is slightly darkened & soiled with a tiny tear to its bottom edge & a piece of tape affixed to the verso. Very good. <p>Jiri Voskovec's copy signed by him in full with brief ink notations in Czech on the title page and with a few pencil markings in the text.<p>This was the last piece performed by the satiric duo known as "V + W". The striking color wrapper illustration depicts the pair side-by-side on their hands and knees in clown-like attire and make-up. The title of the work translates approximately as "Fist in the Eye or Caesar's Finale". It opened at the Liberated Theatre in Prague on April 8, 1938, directed by Jindrich Honzl. The music was composed by V + W's regular composer Jaroslav Jezek. The play begins with the interruption of a performance of "Julius Caesar" by the arrival of a bailiff named Josef Dionysos who is unaware that his name identifies him as the ancient god of theatre and wine. This encounter branches off into a series of fantastical sketches, often accompanied by songs and inspired by comedia dell'arte. It evolves into a spirited consideration of theatre and history,with the underlying conviction that history is not made by generals and dignitaries but by ordinary people and that people should be challenged to take state matters into their own hands.<p>The text is in Czech.<p>Jiri [George] Voskovec was born Jiri Wachsmann [1905-1981]. He was a much revered Czech actor and playwright. After World War 1 Voskovec appeared with Jan Werich [1905-1980] as one of a comic duo in the tradition of Laurel and Hardy. "Together with Jaroslav Jezek, the father of Czech jazz, they moulded dadaism, circus, jazz, Chaplin, Buster Keaton, and American vaudeville into a new art form. They created a new form of intellectual political musical." - [Josef Skvorecky: "All the Bright Young Men and Women"]. Having created a sensation with their "Vest Pocket Revue" in April 1927, V + W were invited to join the Devetsil theatre group in May. In 1929 they renamed the group "Liberated Theatre" ["Osvobozene Divadlo"] and they took over every element of the productions. During the 1930s the productions of V + W became increasingly anti-fascist and their "Liberated Theatre" was eventually forced to close in 1938. The following year they fled to the United States. After World War 2 Voskovec settled permanently in the U.S. and Werich returned to Czechoslovakia. Both actors went on to have long careers in film, Voskovec appearing in 72 movies and Werich in more than 50. Four of their stage works were made into films: "Powder and Gasoline" [1931], "Your Money or Your Life" [1932], "Heave-ho" [1934], and "The World Belongs to Us" [1937]. Voskovec is known for his role as Juror #11 in "12 Angry Men".