The performance of the play 'Solaris' directed by Andriy Zholdak, and produced by the Macedonian National Theater and the Wiener Festwochen festival in Vienna, has seen one of its best renditions on Friday night, up to the level of world theater houses, Telegraf.mk reads.
The central hall at the Museumsquartier, with capacity to seat 820 people was completely sold out, although the price of the tickets reached EUR 60. For three hours, the Austrian audience carefully followed the story of astronaut Kris Kalvin and his dreams. In the end, it responded by awarding the play with a loud applause and standing ovations.
Besides the viewers' satisfaction, the cast also ended the night with positive impressions. The actor interpreting the lead role, Dejan Lilic, who plays Kris, said that although the artists were greeted by the outstanding applause they nonetheless need to concentrate on the next two performances scheduled for June 11 and 12.
"We have much work ahead of us, it's not over. But what took place here was impressive, we were ready and we really worked hard in Skopje. We have the perfect support both by the Macedonian National Theater and its director, Projkovski and the Culture Ministry. Everything was provided on time, both in terms of the set design and the costumes, the props, therefore our job, which was in fact very hard, was made easy. We worked for 12 to 15 hours a day, but the result was, we made a world-quality theater," Lilic said after the play's premiere in Vienna.
Macedonia's Culture Minister Elizabeta Kanceska-Milevska who attended the performance said this theatrical product is on the highest possible aesthetic and artistic level.
"The director offered a different and more specific theatrical aesthetic. The artistic values of our artists were on a very high level, representing their character features and all that the characters in the play bring. I want to thank all the actors, I'm proud of all of them, we really have a European and world premiere that we can go with everywhere," Kanceska-Milevska said.
Actor Slavisa Kajevski, who plays Kris' father, said the project was exceptionally difficult.
"Zholdak, whom I know since ten years ago, it's never easy to work with, but in the end, when the work is being finalized, you forget about everything. I'm pleased with the product and want to express my gratitude to the colleagues and the entire team for sustaining together, because what we have done is not an easy thing at all," Kajevski said, who has previously worked with the same director on the play 'Electra'.
The MNT director, Dejan Projkovski said what has been announced for for a long period of time has finally been realized and that it was an honor to be in Vienna during the days when Macedonian culture is being presented.
"Watching the play and Dejan Lilic leading the young actors' cast, I think Solaris will have a second working title when it will participate in festivals - made in Macedonia," Projkovski said.
The head of Wiener Festwochen festival, Marina Davydova, was involved in the preparation process and said she could not give any objective comments because she has already seen the play several times.
"I'm already inside the story, but I hope the critics will recognize the quality of this project, and the visual elements in particular," Davydova said, adding that the theater reviews that will be out these days will be an important factor both for the play's future prospects and for the Macedonian National Theater future cooperation.
Macedonia's ambassador to Vienna, Vasilka Poposka-Trenevska, attended the premiere. She pointed that the play represents a great honor for Macedonia.
As of 1951, Wiener Festwochen festival is taking place for three to four weeks, from May 13 to June 19. It promotes more than 80 cultural events and is followed by 130 accredited journalists.