Bohemian

CAST:

Name: Gabriela Legun/ Adriana Ferfecka

Rodolfo: Andrzej Lampert/Łukasz Załęski

Marcello: Stanislav Kuflyuk/Kamil Zdebel

Schaunard: Kacper Kostrzewski/Kamil Zdebel

Musetta: Ruslana Koval/Marta Huptas

Hill: Zbigniew Wunsch/Tomasz Theil

Alcindoro: Grzegorz Szostak/Bogdan Kurowski

Benoit: Adam Woźniak

Sponsor: Maciej Komandera

Libretto: Giacosa Giacosa, L. Illica

Performance in the original language

PICTURE 1

Winter. Paris. Latin Quarter. “Under the roofs of Paris” a small attic — the apartment of four young artists. The poet Rudolf and the painter Marceli, despite the cold, hunger and poverty, like most artists in the world, do not lose their humor and even work creatively. The severe December cold forces the poet to devote the manuscript of the drama for warming the attic. Colline returns — the philosopher, also without a penny or food, because on Christmas Eve the pawnshop was closed. Moments later, to the surprise of his friends, provided with a tree, wine, cigars, food and money, a fourth friend, the musician Schaunard, enters. For the last three days he has been earning silver “ludwiki” by fulfilling the strange wish of some rich Englishman. Well, he was supposed to play until the parrot died locked in a cage. Of course, he played, but on this occasion he broke the maid and helped the parrot to die by feeding her parsley. Hungry friends, not listening to the musician's story, prepare a feast. The prudent Schaunard, however, hides the food for more uncertain times, and meanwhile, after drinking the wine, he proposes to head to the Latin Quarter to have a snack and have fun with the pretty girls. They are about to leave when there is a knock on the door. The amused artists are surprised by the visit of the owner of the house, Mr. Benoit. It is not easy to pay the arrears of the chamber quarter, but what ingenuity! By drinking wine together, they provoke the prudish townsman to confess his tastes and loves. Then, feigning holy indignation - in the name of offended morality, they throw the stunned owner out the door. Amid laughter and joy, they share the money earned by Schaunard and arrange a meeting at “their” cafe “Momus”. Rudolf, like any young poet, in order to earn a living is forced to write articles for newspapers to order. The deadline for submitting a new text is just running out, and this obligation does not allow him to go with his friends. Among jokes and mockery, he promises to appear in a moment. Left alone, he tries to write, but an unexpected visit from Mimi — a strange neighbor who came to ask for a candle to be lit on the stairs — interrupts his work. Rudolf is fascinated by a charming girl from the first moment. Her tenderness and sensitivity arouse the feelings of the poet. Also Mimi succumbs to Rudolf's charm. The candles go out. A key lost “by chance” is an excellent excuse to get closer. Rudolf tells a story about himself. In response, in poetic words, Mimi reveals her own artistic feeling of life and nature, because she is an embroiderer and embroiders flowers with pleasure. The scene is interrupted by the call of friends waiting downstairs. Rudolf would like to stay in the attic with Mimi, but she, embarrassed by the situation, deftly offers to go to “Momus” together, which, of course, does not interfere with love confessions.

IMAGE 2

Rudolf and Mimi walk among a crowded crowd busy with their last errands on Christmas Eve. The perspective of the city is closed by the shimmering white dome “Sacre coeur”. Sellers and dealers offer a variety of goods. Colline buys books, Schaunard buys a horn. Rudolf, at Mimi's request, presents her with a cap, and Marceli looks around for the girls. After a while, everyone sits down at “Momus” and orders sumptuous dishes... But here comes Marcelli's beloved — Musetta, “the adornment of feasts and the queen of mischief” of the whole district, “a woman endowed with a certain amount of vanity and complete ignorance of spelling.” Musetta appears in the company of a wealthy admirer - Alcindor. At first glance, she notices Marcel, who deliberately avoids her gaze so as not to betray his jealousy. The contemptuous Musetta takes on a perverse game and provokes him more and more clearly, while tormenting and mocking the admirer. As a result, under the pretext of the need to buy new slippers, she gets rid of the uncomfortable Alcindor and returns to her lover. Marceli and Musetta are back together. The waiter gives the bill. When the “four musketeers” find that their pockets are empty again, the clever Musetta instructs the waiter to combine the two bills and give them to Alcindor to pay when he returns with her new slippers. A military orchestra is coming. Everyone wants to see the celebration of the change of guard, and all six leave the cafe “Momus”.

PICTURE 3

The horns of the city. End of February. Morning. All covered with snow. It's freezing. Guards and customs officers control the villagers going to the city. Apart from the hornets — the inn. Marceli, for hot food and a warm corner, has given up great artistic ambitions and paints tavern signs, while Musetta teaches adventurous amateurs to sing. There were many breakups between Mimi and Rudolf. So it was this time. Tired and increasingly ill, Mimi needs Marcel's advice and help. For this, she came here at such an early hour, but before entering she is stopped by the unexpected presence of Rudolf, who, under the unfounded pretext of her betrayal, decided to leave her and came to sleep in the inn. Rudolf also has no peace, he cannot fall asleep and seeks the advice of Marcel, who reproaches him. True, in a fit of jealousy, he arranges unpleasant scenes for her, but for Rudolf his concern for the fate and health of his beloved Mimi is more important. They can't afford decent housing. It is hungry and cold in the attic, and the disease is progressing dangerously. The coughing attack of the distraught Mimi betrays her concealment. She understood everything, witnessed the whole conversation of friends. In the depths of the inn, there is the laughter of the amused Musetta. Marceli runs to teach her a lesson for flirting with guests, Mimi and Rudolf are left alone. They understand the need to part, but they try to drag out this moment. They hope that the spring warmth and sunshine will allow them to get back together. At the time of Mimi's lyrical farewell to Rudolf, a sharp quarrel occurs between Marcel and Musetta, whom the painter accuses of a new betrayal. Both couples of lovers break up.

IMAGE 4

Spring has arrived. Rudolf and Marceli for many weeks from the moment of parting did not meet their beloved. Both miss and secretly indulge in sentimental reflections about the past. Despite the spring heat and sunshine, there were no more auspicious times for them. Pockets empty. Colline and Schaunard come, bring four loaves and salted herring. But what a fantasy! Avoiding the deplorable reality, friends in a hanging mood fake a great feast, then dances, and finally a “duel”. Musetta unexpectedly enters the attic of amused “musketeers”. She accidentally met on the street Mimi, who, after parting with the viscount, was seriously ill. Mimi's entrance is joyful for everyone and at the same time very depressing. Everyone would like to help her. Musetta sells her earrings, and Colline the only cloak, so she can only buy medicine and fulfill the last wish of the sullen Mimi, who dreams of a warm muff. Everyone leaves discreetly. Mimi and Rudolf are left alone. When after a while friends return, they witness a sharp attack of shortness of breath, which depletes the girl's strength. The patient slowly loses consciousness. The announcement of the arrival of the doctor, nor the ardent prayer of Musetta, will no longer help. I'm dying. Spring indeed united the feelings of lovers, but one human existence died out.

The license to use the translation has been granted by the Association of Authors ZAiKS.