Life is a Miracle is a monodrama directed under the same title text written by Ivica Ivanišević. Like many other big stories of "small" heroes, this drama stages so much needed life optimism and cheerfulness. Drama protagonist, stonecutter Fabijan from Split, only at first glance seems to be fed up - he is actually hungry, he wants more, his appetite is insatiable, he continuously wants to witness the miracle of life.
In a retrospective view of his own past, through a number of local symbols, puns and sayings Fabian tells the story of the past in which historical events are only scenery of his own peculiar biography. Growing up in a poor farm and fisherman suburban life during the fascist occupation, internment in a refugee camp of the El Shatt, days of socialist construction, and then, of course,transitional destruction - all these are only way stations of his personal history. In addition, this biography follows the pattern of his medical record - all important periods are reconstructed with the help of the then actual disease. Fabijan is in this respect an absolute Shock Worker: a real Stakhanov among patients. It is easier to list the health problems which have somehow missed him than monstrous diseases which he failed to escape. These troubles did not only determine his life path, but also his worldview, a deep belief that all the sufferinghas made sense and that it was worth enduring it. This text was written by order of Ivica Vidović, one of the greatest Croatian actors and founder of Theatre Rugantino. That is why the text is set in the regions that may have decisively determined him and spiked with episodes from his life.
The play Life is a Miracle, which was premiered on November 30, 2014 in the”Vidra" Theatre, Theatre Rugantino dedicates to its founder, the actor who for many decades created memorable roles in theatre, movies and television.
"Popović throughout the show kept the attention and interest of the audience and brilliantly performing very successfully revived the old Fabijan through all the changes in his life journey. Despite the tragic note of the character, storytelling is so fabulous, that the audience is eager to find out a few more adventures and anecdotes of miraculous life of Fabijan. Directed by Gordana Gadžić in a restrained and precise manner, discreetly and subtly using lights and music, while a symbolic game with a ring at the beginning and the end, poetically completes the story. It is this game which symbolizes joy that sums up the spirit of story’s optimism - no matter how hard, life is a miracle.“
(Olivera Radović, KAZALIŠTE.hr)
Ticket price: 100 kn