Madam Minister

"Madam Minister" relies on an archetype, a comic mask, and a universal state of mind, a play that erases gender boundaries. This theatrical comedy uses disguise as a means of exploring truths about people, society, and the essence of life. However, disguising is not only a part of dramatic art, but also the essence of political life, where people and ideas hide behind a façade of a desirable image in the struggle for power. It is an everyday genre full of travesty, where the thirst for power often undermines common sense.

In the past, all actors in theater were men, as female presence was considered inappropriate. Today, this practice reflects new prejudices, whose followers are puritans and petit bourgeois. The backdrop of this play is a poem by Jovan Jovanović Zmaj, which deals with issues of Serbian politics and its various forms and manifestations.

• Where is Serbian politics today?
• Is it modest or furious?
• Is it laughing or is it nervous?

Nušić created "The Minister's Wife" in the thirties, a time when capitalism and class society shaped the world between the two wars. From that period emerged fascism and nationalism. If we remain within the confines of the thirties, we recognize the continuity of state anomalies and mentalities, which are still rethought today.

Nušić's world, unfortunately, is still relevant; his characters are not only objects of laughter but also provoke fear. It is sad that today's reality reminds us of his words and situations. Nušić does not cease to be our contemporary even today, raising questions of occasional laughter and confronting social truths.

Text author: Tatjana Mandić Rigonat