However, before he transforms into Piłsudski to take part in the Independence Day Parade, he will perform the role of Marmeladov in "Crime and Punishment" at the festival devoted to Fyodor Dostoevsky in Saint Petersburg, Russia. The play, which is staged by the Mały Theatre in Wroclaw, was also directed by Stanisław Melski and had its première on 30 October this year at Impart. We are keeping our fingers crossed for the Wroclaw troupe and their Commander-in-Chief to take both Polish and Russian audiences by storm.
11 November, during this year's Independence Day festivities in Wroclaw, Stanisław Melski in a uniform borrowed from the Polski Theatre store room and with suitable make-up, the highlight of which is an enormous moustache, will sit in a carriage driven, as always, by Mirosław Borcuch. Mayor Rafał Dutkiewicz, who also wears period costumes on such occasions, something in the style of Paderewski, will be sitting next to the Marshal in his carriage...
The arrival of "our Piłsudski" is scheduled for 12.30 pm and, weather permitting, it will take about an hour. The crowd will be celebrating, the Marshal will be giving his regards, and he will also give consent to have a photo taken with young people. It is worth squeezing oneself into such a photo, since Stanisław Melski "on duty" on 11 November is a spitting image of the Commander-in-Chief after his glorious victory in the Polish-Soviet War.
Photograph: Wikipedia; Tomasz Walków
