By JESSE GRAHAM
THE fractured mind of a retired boxer will be explored in Exit Theatre’s new production of Springer, a one-man play to be performed in Lilydale from 30 July.
Kristof Kaczmarek plays Springer, an old man and former championship boxer whose career spanned 380 matches – 376 of which were won by the athlete, 350 of those by knockout.
But Springer’s extensive career and the resultant trauma has left him with a shattered memory, and the play is a monologue delivered by the boxer as he stands in the ring that he used to fight in.
“The story is not really about boxing, the story is about betrayal,” Mr Kaczmarek said.
“He (Springer) basically brags about how good he was – but this is only a cover-up.
“He talks, ‘I was so good, I was this, and this, and this’, but, as the story unfolds, slowly, slowly, we’re discovering it was something else.”
The monologue jumps between different stories in Springer’s career and life – such as his monumental fights and his relationship with his coach – and as the pieces fall together, a dark twist to the story is revealed.
Mr Kaczmarek said the role was challenging to learn, because the play did not follow cues from other actors or in the scenes, like those with a full cast do.
“It’s a very difficult role to learn, because it doesn’t have a structure – it’s not like you follow some action,” he said.
He said the play was written by Polish playwright, Stefan Mrowinski, during the heyday of Polish boxing in the 1960s.
“As a matter of fact, when he wrote this play he had some problems with some boxers, because they all thought it was about them,” Mr Kaczmarek said.
Springer will be performed at the Lightning Fight Centre at the Lilydale Youth Club on Market Street, Lilydale, on Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 July and Saturday 6 August, with 6pm and 8pm performances on Saturdays and a 6pm performance on the Sunday.
Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for concession holders or groups of four or more and $15 for students – tickets are $10 to the preview screening at 6pm on 30 July.
To book, or for more information, visit www.theatre-exit.com, email theatre.exit@gmail.com, or buy tickets at the door.
