Samovar, published a duet of stories. “
The Curtain Falls, The Show Must End” by
Julie Nováková (translated from Czech by the author) is a historical drama set at the eve of WWII. Two backstage workers in a theater in Prague conjure up ghosts, which proceed to haunt and torment the latest production. That is combined with political pressure around the company’s production choices and staff, so tensions run high. The director casts about for an exorcist, but the best they can do is a retired playwright who knows something of exorcism techniques. This is a moving story featuring real historical figures, and the weight of the history we know adds gravitas to the situation. Ghosts are more benign in “