The Lithuanian-born Lithuanian Liudvikas Martynas Gediminas Rėza (1776-1840) was one of the founding figures in the history of our culture: a clergyman, pedagogue, philologist, editor and translator of religious writings, publicist, historian and even poet. His childhood was extremely difficult: he lost his mother at the age of two and his father at the age of six. He was first taken in by a fisherman neighbour, then by the postmaster of Rasytė, and finally by a distant relative, a precentor.
This orphan, who did not have a family of his own, grew up to be extremely compassionate and to care unconditionally for others... Without his efforts, we might not know Donelaitis today, and many Lithuanian folk songs would have been lost...
According to the director of the play, Saulės Degutytė: "This play is about the fact that people who have lost something in their childhood, who lack something, often have a tendency to push forward. That's human nature - to look for a way out, to strive for something when you lack it... And it's also easier to be compassionate towards others. After all, this is what Rhesanium, the hostel founded by L. Reza, is all about. He understood and sympathised with those who wanted to study but lacked the money to do so. We interviewed various people who grew up without parents, looking for common ground..."
As is typical of Table Theatre, Rhesanium is based on the principle of object theatre. According to actor Saulus Čėpla, "we are all multifunctional in this play. I alone have to play a mum, a dad, a child, a professor... And the objects also have several roles..." The only actor in the play is assisted by the composer and performer Snieguolė Dikčiūtė, who introduces another layer of the narrative with live sound chords while on stage.
In the play, together with the playwright Sandra Bernotaitė, portraits of the other characters, representing Rėza's time and surroundings, are created out of the details of his life and times. Living without parents is difficult and sometimes even horrible, but the world has not abandoned or wronged young Ludwig. Having found his place in it, having become a clergyman, he has not forgotten to give thanks by leaving a light behind. "Believe, work honestly for the greater good", is inscribed on his grave.
The poeticism of the main character of the play, L. Rėza, justifies the chosen artistic means - speaking in allusions, metaphorical, lyrical. The images born from the artistic flair of the creators will allow you to touch the life of Ludwig Rėza and discover what might have been inadvertently lost among facts and knowledge.
