Robinson and Crusoe

Is language, color, hair style, build, sexual preference, eating habits enough for us to draw walls? Is the quest for supremacy borne out of ambition or an inherent fear of servitude? How long and under what conditions do we get over our xenophobia?

Nino D’Introna and Giacomo Ravicchio’s Robinson and Crusoe is the type of play that takes a simple situation and explodes into asking questions that are true and basic to human nature. When two soldiers from different lands find themselves wrecked atop a roof on an island, they do what seems only natural at first – fight for survival, be suspicious of the other and be on a constant vigil. Whoever loses track loses this Russian roulette.

They speak different languages, eat different things, listen to different kinds of music and sing different songs. Yet once they are done trying to fight each other and have come to terms with their physical parity they are left with little choice but to try and coexist. It’s then the human spirit prevails and demolishes all boundaries and identities that supposedly define us. They now understand each other, even though they continue to speak different languages.

Translation: Xenia Kalogeropoulou
Directed by: Martin Scharnhorst
Sets & Costumes: Carolina Spyrou,
Lights: Vasilis Petinaris
Music: Nikos Vihas
Actors: Andreas Nikolaidis and Ioannis Ioannou

(in Greek)