An Imaginary Report on an American Rock Festival
| An Imaginary Report on an American Rock Festival | |
|---|---|
| Music | Gábor Presser |
| Lyrics | Anna Adamis |
| Book | Sándor Pós English adaptation by: William A. Frankonis |
| Setting | Altamont Free Concert |
| Basis | Short novel Képzelt riport egy amerikai popfesztiválról by Tibor Déry |
| Premiere | March 2, 1973: Comedy Theatre of Budapest |
| Productions | 1986 Albany, NY 2007 Budapest, Hungary concert |
An Imaginary Report on an American Rock Festival (Hungarian: Képzelt riport egy amerikai popfesztiválról) is a Hungarian musical by composer Gábor Presser, lyricist Anna Adamis and book writer Sándor Pós based on the short novel of the same name by Tibor Déry. The musical premiered in 1973, and being the first successful Hungarian rock musical (and also Presser's first theatrical work) opened the way for popular music to Hungarian theatres and literature. It is set in a U.S. rock festival and tells a story of a married Hungarian immigrant couple.
The tragic musical became an instant critical and box office success in Hungary and—thanks to the several guest performances—Europe after its premiere in the Comedy Theatre of Budapest on March 2, 1973. Since then it has been performed by many Hungarian theatres in Europe while its English debut was in The Egg, Albany, New York, in March 1986. According to Színházi kalauz, a Hungarian encyclopedia of plays, “the most prominent productions were Balázs Kovalik's staging of 1999 in Szeged with choreography by Tamás Juronics and János Szikora's clear-out, thought-provoking rendition in Szolnok (2005).”
The songs of the musical became hits in Hungary and parts of the repertoire of Locomotiv GT. A radio play version of the musical was made in 1979. On the 25th anniversary of the premiere, the songs were reworked by Gergő Borlai, which were the basis of a new concert version of the show.
Sándor Pós writer and dramaturge, assistant director of the National Theatre, seeing his career opportunities as a director to have been exploited there, suggested the need for a "youth theatre" at a professional debate in 1971. While researching for the proposed repertoire, Levente Osztovics recommended him Tibor Déry's short novel titled Képzelt riport egy amerikai popfesztiválról, the theme of which Pós found appropriate for the adolescent and young adult audiences. Since his submission for theatre establishment did not get an official answer, he presented the idea of the play to the manager of the National Theatre, Béla Both, who liked the concept and charged Pós with the dramatisation. Déry, being uncertain in the outcome of the enterprise until the premiere, gave his permission. After Both retired, the new manager, Endre Marton chose to direct the play himself and appointed Pós as assistant, but the rehearsals never started. After three months of waiting, Déry—with Pós's approval—gave the rights to the Comedy Theatre and Pós contracted to Magyar Rádió.
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