Women often (and men less often) desire to be reduced to just a body. A body – a piece of flesh – a commodity. To willingly surrender, to be discarded, to be a victim of rape and mutilation. At times, this is socially conditioned masochism, the desire to heighten sexual sensations or, as in Leśmian's short poem, an unconscious consequence of a virgin tempting fate. In Burning My Mouth there is a woman consumed with grief for her deceased lover, who was her entire world. She is a woman without characteristics, molded by men, shaping her “Self” under their gaze, touch, feeling.
After the death of her beloved, Maria embarks on a journey of "self-discovery" to bring out her true Self. The extremes she tests on herself are meant to bring her closer to finding the answer to the question “who am I?”. Maria challenges God, Love, Herself. She both uses and is used. She sacrifices her body to save her soul.
"MARIA
Human life is cheap, and people can disappear anonymously.”
The text of the play is based on Georges Bataille's The Dead Man. It incorporates and samples excerpts from Oriana Fallaci's The Rage and the Pride, a Balkan folk tale, and promotional materials from adult film studios.