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duologue
Drama
2 Characters

The Burden of Leadership — Squaring the Circle

from Squaring the Circle

Written by Tom Stoppard

Kania, the First Secretary of the Polish United Workers' Party, vents his frustrations regarding the impossible political landscape of 1980s Poland. He balances the conflicting pressures of the Soviet Union, the United States, the Catholic Church, and his own fractured party while struggling to maintain order amidst rising trade unions.

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KANIA: There are people who think that the Party boss can run the operation like a Chicago gangster. They should try sitting in this chair. I've got a Party which is losing members in droves, and half of those who remain have joined a free trade union with 5 million members -

WITNESS: Seven million.

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CharactersKania, Witness
Duration2 min
Age Range45-55
GenderMale
GenreDrama
PeriodContemporary
Formatduologue
SourceSquaring the Circle
Tonepowerful
AccentPolish
Suitable Fordrama school audition, agent showcase, self tape, general practice
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