Márton Kakas at the theatre

Mór Jókai, theatre critic

Abstract

Appearing first in the Vasárnapi Ujság in 1856, Márton Kakas, Mór Jókai’s character, quickly gained great popularity. The figure, created in the likeness of characters from satirical journals, also voiced his opinions on theatre performances in his letters sent to the editor. Márton Kakas later became a regular character in Jókai’s satirical journal, Üstökös, and evolved into Jókai’s alter ego, offering his value judgments with a superior feel on the National Theatre during the era of absolutism. Readers were not presented with classical critiques; rather, they were informed about the daily life of the theatre, behind-the-scenes secrets, and, of course, Jókai’s thoughts on the National Theatre’s role and position and the relationship between opera and drama. This was not the first time Jókai had written about the theatre. His very first article, published on January 2, 1847, in Életképek, sparked a polemic. His surprising perspective undoubtedly contributed to Jókai not being typically mentioned among the theatre critics of the era, even though his accounts draw attention to lesser-known years in the history of the National Theatre.