Theater Premiere: A Fresh Take on a Classic Comedy
The Odesa Academic Musical and Dramatic Theater named after Vasylko has introduced a new play titled "Hello, Monster!", directed by Kyiv's Slava Zhila. This romantic-mystical comedy is based on the play "The Blue Monster" by the Italian playwright Carlo Gozzi, which has now been translated into Ukrainian for the first time.
The premiere took place at the theater, showcasing a classic piece of world dramaturgy. The play was translated into Ukrainian for the first time by Viktor Shilo, marking an essential step for theatrical art in Ukraine.
Slava Zhila emphasized: "This play belongs to the classics of world dramaturgy, yet we didn't have a Ukrainian translation of 'The Blue Monster'. Thanks to Yulia Pyvovarova, who suggested this idea, we made it happen for the first time and created an interesting production for Odesa".
The narrative unfolds in Nanking, a southern kingdom of China, where true love is torn apart amid intrigues and rumors. The monarch is unaware of his wife's affairs with half the city, while the inhabitants suffer from the onslaught of monsters. During this time, two lovers appear: a foreign princess and a crown prince who has mysteriously vanished. They must navigate fantastical trials, save the kingdom from evil creatures, and remain faithful to each other.
The director explained that the play touches on themes of the lust for power, the corruption of those who seek it, the end of the world, and the anticipation of a new era. According to Zhila, the dramaturgy is built around the idea that nearly every religion has its savior upon whom people try to shift responsibility. At the same time, the work includes elements of farce, comedy, and satire, as well as a discussion about how people often confuse true love with other feelings.
