Piaskownica : przestrzeń wciąż obecna w dramacie

Abstract

The article reflects on the existence of a peculiar space in the dramatic literature, i.e. a sandbox. It makes a reference to the foreign drama (E.F. Albee, Piaskownica [A sandbox]) and the Polish ones (Piaskownica [A sandbox] by M. Walczak, Komponenty [Components] by M. Owsiany, Muzeum histeryczne Mm Eurozy [A hysterical museum o f Eurozy] — a libretto by P. Szmitke). The analysis of the plays in question and references to the selected performances, as well as the examples from other plays, shows the uniqueness of a sandbox in the function of a dramatic and scenic space. It confirms its functioning in the role of "a quotation" from a local landscape and a kind of "the scene on the stage", which, together with the people acting in it, is able to describe the everlasting and current interhuman tensions and conflicts or reflect the main patterns and values of the contemporary culture. The analysis conducted also proves the ability of the sandbox space to an ambiguous metaphorization: indicating an enforced place or a free reward, prison or asylum, a place related to the cage, web, box, cart, cofin versus the source or garden.