Gina Kaufmann has waited a long time for this moment.

The theater professor and the director of SacramentoState’s latest production, Vaclav Havel’s”Temptation,” first developed an interest in the playnearly a decade ago.

Kaufmann had just read Havel’s “TheMemorandum” and was eager to read more by him.

“I read “Temptation’ eight years ago for thefirst time. I was doing some office work at the time, and I was sostruck by the parallels between the office and the play,”Kaufmann said.

Not understanding the meaning of their menial office work,Kaufmann said, is a feeling workers have that is strongly shadowedin “Temptation.”

Havel wrote “Temptation” in the 1980s from his jailcell.

Because of his work – and questionable quotes given to the press- had made Czechoslovakian leaders, as well as some citizens,consider him a threat.

“The government felt he had betrayed all these people bysomething he said to the press,” Kaufmann said. He had been”inadvertently betrayed by his ethics (and) felt he was goingcrazy” in prison, she said.

Out of that horrible experience came “Temptation,”which was published in the United States in 1989. Havel then wenton to become the president of the then-brand-new CzechRepublic.

“Temptation” is set at the Institute, wherescientists attempt to destroy the ever-present “irrationaltendencies” of their society.

The play centers on Dr. Foustka, who is monitored closelybecause of his rumored interest in black arts – rumors thatdon’t exactly endear him to his coworkers.

The play ends with a unique party of revelations for Foustka -and a fire, which was one major reason it took Kaufmann so long tofind a venue that would house the play.

“People were worried about the fire. It is a realchallenge to do fire onstage,” Kaufmann said. “Peoplewere worried about the technical challenges of the play, and the(dense) language.”

What Kaufmann found so interesting about”Temptation” was the insight into the rituals andstructure within society.

“I’m really fascinated by this human need we have tocreate rituals and structure. (The play asks) what is evil? Who isthe devil? Who exactly is Havel criticizing? I think he’sreally attacking Foustka,” Kaufmann said.

She thinks that the play emphasizes the responsibility that allhumans have to take a stand, yet also explores the fact that peoplewho do take a stand are sometimes destroyed.

This happens to to a secondary character in”Temptation.”

The character that is destroyed in the play parallels theplaywright, Kaufmann said, which certainly helps to explainHavel’s mindset during his stay in prison when he wrote theplay.

But she doesn’t want the somewhat dense subject matter toscare students off – “Temptation” is funny, and acreative production.

“I want (students) to think about structure and rituals intheir lives,” she said. “What is the meaning behind therituals in our lives? Are there meanings?”

Kaufmann would also like students to come away from”Temptation” with new, positive views on thetheater-going experience.

“Going to the theater is a visceral, stimulatingexperience, emotionally and mentally,” she said.

Another reason to see the play is the great performances,Kaufmann said.

She has been delighted by the growth that the student actorshave shown.

“The degree of progress has been heartwarming for me -seeing where they are now and where they started,” Kaufmannsaid.