The Jára Cimrman Theatre is a theatre company in Prague that stages plays attributed to the invented figure of Jára Cimrman. In September 2016 Czech Radio marked its fiftieth anniversary.[1]
The first plays and the rift
After Svěrák's Akt and Smoljak's Vyšetřování ztráty třídní knihy, the third premiere was Domácí zabijačka by Jiří Šebánek, subtitled "toiletní horror". It was first performed on 7 February 1968 and had only 34 repeat performances. It is the only play that the theatre no longer has in its repertoire.[1]
Zdeněk Svěrák explains that in the 1968/69 season differences of character emerged, which led to personal friction. Ladislav Smoljak described his relationship with Jiří Šebánek by saying that they did not get along.[1] The mutual antipathy peaked when Smoljak and Svěrák wrote Hospoda na mýtince together. According to Svěrák it was the first play on which they collaborated as authors, and also the first in which the Cimrman style appeared. The pair conceived it so that it would look like a work that Cimrman could really have written under the conditions of his time.[1]
Miloň Čepelka says that Šebánek regarded Cimrman as very intellectual material. When Smoljak and Svěrák strengthened the figure of Jára Cimrman, the repertoire acquired its own face and the foundation of the company's later popularity began to be laid.[1]
Departure of part of the company
Disagreements with Helena Philippová, who was to direct a new play, were added to the quarrels among the members. Svěrák recalls that at a meeting Philippová and Šebánek announced that they would stay only if Smoljak left. Svěrák did not agree, so the two left the company and Šebánek withdrew Domácí zabijačka. Vít Mach, Ivan Štědrý, Jiří Stivín and Josef Podaný left with them. The company was allowed to go on using in its production the passages that Šebánek had written for the play Akt.[1]
According to the radio broadcaster, everyone who talks about the matter agrees that without Šebánek and Philippová the theatre would probably not have come into being.[1] Svěrák said of Šebánek that he had a gift for distinctive humour that could not be replaced for the theatre.[1]
The poll on the wonders of Czechia
Viewers of Czech Television chose the invented genius Jára Cimrman as the greatest wonder of Czechia. According to the vote, the seven wonders also included Janský's discovery of blood groups, Wichterle's contact lenses, Czech glass, Charles IV, Prague Castle and Czech beer. When Cimrman's candidacy was presented, people applauded standing for Ladislav Smoljak, a member of the theatre, who had died a week before the results were announced.[2]