Dead Man Comes for His Sweetheart
Svetlana Makarovič
Micika loved Anzel and Anzel loved Micika, but their love was not meant to have a happy future. Instead, it died along with Anzel, while Micika was left with a life that she never wanted, a life that others imposed on her...
The play Dead Man Comes for His Sweetheart has its roots in the eponymous folk song and in Prešeren's adaptation of Bürger's Lenore. The author approaches the topic from a shockingly different perspectives, for example, she uses schizophrenia to introduce two protagonists, both named Micika, who fight for dominance or survival. Supporting them is Saint Tadej, a wanderer, seer and confessor, and two mothers, Micika’s and Miller’s – neither of them could escape the sharp pen of Svetlana Makarovič. Miller's mother continues to scold her son even after she’s dead and gives him instructions on how to properly mourn her, since she has always known best. She remind him continuously that she has sacrificed everything for his son, so the least she deserves is for him to do as she sees fit. The other Micika opportunistically demands from Miller to sign over the mill to her, if he wants her to marry him. She then says that she will burn the mill down in broad daylight, since it will belong to her. For she knows a terrible secret – that Miller laid his hand on Anzel, her dead beloved. The first Micika is gone, since there is no place for true love in a world like this.
Opening night: 27 March 2014
Running time: 110 minutes without intermission
In Slovenian with Romanian, Hungarian and English surtitles
The play Dead Man Comes for His Sweetheart has its roots in the eponymous folk song and in Prešeren's adaptation of Bürger's Lenore. The author approaches the topic from a shockingly different perspectives, for example, she uses schizophrenia to introduce two protagonists, both named Micika, who fight for dominance or survival. Supporting them is Saint Tadej, a wanderer, seer and confessor, and two mothers, Micika’s and Miller’s – neither of them could escape the sharp pen of Svetlana Makarovič. Miller's mother continues to scold her son even after she’s dead and gives him instructions on how to properly mourn her, since she has always known best. She remind him continuously that she has sacrificed everything for his son, so the least she deserves is for him to do as she sees fit. The other Micika opportunistically demands from Miller to sign over the mill to her, if he wants her to marry him. She then says that she will burn the mill down in broad daylight, since it will belong to her. For she knows a terrible secret – that Miller laid his hand on Anzel, her dead beloved. The first Micika is gone, since there is no place for true love in a world like this.
Opening night: 27 March 2014
Running time: 110 minutes without intermission
In Slovenian with Romanian, Hungarian and English surtitles
Photo: Mare Mutić
Original title: Mrtvec pride po ljubico
Composer: Branko Rožman
Assistant Director and Choreographer: Gregor Luštek
Dramaturg: Marinka Poštrak
Set Designer: Branko Hojnik
Costume Designer: Belinda Radulović
Language Consultant: Maja Cerar
Accordion Teacher, Accompanist and Music Teacher: Branko Rožman
Lighting Designer: Drago Cerkovnik
Mask Designer: Matej Pajntar
Cast:
Micika 1: Ana Urbanc, guest
Micika 2: Vesna Pernarčič / Barbara Ribnikar
Anzel: Miha Rodman
Miller: Aljoša Ternovšek
Mother: Darja Reichman
Saint Tadej: Borut Veselko
Dead Lady Miller: Vesna Jevnikar
Judita: Judita Polak, guest
Ciril: Ciril Roblek, guest
