Abstract
A Play in One Act
These complaints are echoed throughout Central and Eastern Europe. The fear of new, unconventional and non-conformist work by young writers and artists is markedly bigger in Communist countries than in the West. State media officials view the young newcomers with deep suspicion especially because they often voice doubts and disillusionment, and consequently are dangerous ideological heretics.
The one-act play Mrs Hoffer's Cat is Olga Diószegi's first play. An amateur theatre group at Szeged University reportedly became very enthusiastic about it at first — they even wrote music for it — but then abruptly fell silent. Miss Diószegi has a strong feeling that pressure was exerted by the local Communist and Youth organisations, a result of her connections with samizdat literature.