HHO TO PROVIDE SPACE FOR FUTURE PERFORMANCE OF "EARTH DARKNESS"

ZAGREB, Nov 25 (Hina) - The Croatian Helsinki Committee (HHO) on Thursday held a press conference on the occasion of the cancellation of Predrag Raos' play "Earth Darkness" in the Zagreb theatre of Vidra. Director of the satirical theatre of Kerempuh Dusko Ljustina stressed that the entire story was blown out of all proportion, and added that the Kerempuh theatre did not prohibit that the play be held. "If a state institution did that, than it would be an issue for the HHO. The decision of the future non-performance of the "Earth Darkness" play was reached by 100 employees of the Kerempuh theatre, who cannot be managed by the HHO, for the HHO is not paying their salaries. We make our own decision whether we are going to show a play 20 or 50 times", Ljustina said. To take the play off our programme was decided due to the overall situation in the theatre, the reaction of the audience, and moral and civilisation norms, "because people in the theatre believed that at a moment when a man is fighting for his life, it is not the time for this play", Ljustina explained. "My show ridicules the left wing, the right wing, the electorate and the President, whom I did not insult, ill or healthy, but I was making mockery of his political ideas and views", author of the play Predrag Raos said. The director of the play, Bozidar Oreskovic, believes that the play was greatly accepted by the audience. The Croatian Helsinki Committee will try to provide space for the future performance of "Earth Darkness", to enable the play the destiny adequate to artistic achievements, and not political condemnations, independent HHO activist Vjekoslav Magas said. (hina) it mm