Безталанна

We invite you to a Ukrainian classic – performance “The Unfortunate” directed by the National Theatre named after I. Franko. You will experience a masterful reinterpretation of the well-known plot about love and the difficulty of choice by the brilliant Ukrainian director Ivan Uryvskyi.

Love as a fatal force

The performance “The Unfortunate” – is a drama based on the play of the same name by playwright Ivan Karpenko-Kary, one of the founders of Ukrainian professional theatre. Director Ivan Uryvskyi “blurs” the features of the era, removes socio-domestic determinism, and rejects the tragic ending, turning the story into an existential drama. Karpenko-Kary’s ideas are not contradicted by such an interpretation – on the contrary, it makes them modern and relevant.

At the center of the plot is a love triangle of Varka – Hnat – Sofia. Their relationships form the plot framework of the performance, but the director goes much deeper than a domestic story. “The Unfortunate” becomes a reflection on Love as an eternal, almost metaphysical category, gifted only to the chosen ones and lasting as long as life, humanity, and the world exist.

The performance tries to explore how love and sacrifice turn into passion, desire, and hatred. And this, in turn, awakens Fate. This insatiable force draws in not only the lovers but also everyone nearby. Souls are burnt out, feelings are destroyed, and only at the moment of emptiness does Hnat’s late realization come: “I accidentally, from the heart…”

A timeless story

The performance “The Unfortunate” is largely artistically and visually based. Various methods are used here to mix historical eras and leave room for interpretations at the viewer’s discretion. These symbols do not have unambiguous interpretations – and that is the strength of the performance. The color scheme of the scenes also changes along with the emotional state of the characters. The ingenious lighting score constantly shifts accents, angles, and focal points, creating a sense of instability and anxiety.

The performance “The Unfortunate” by director Ivan Uryvskyi – is a space of open meanings, where the classic plot turns into a deep, troubling exploration of human nature, love, and the fatal price one has to pay for it.