S. Kovaľov: Filipko and the Witch

'The Tale of Filipko' is an original Belarusian folktale—the first of its kind from this region that we are presenting. Right from the start, however, we discover that Slavic, European, and even global fairy tales seem to stem from a single source. That is why the play features motifs from Tom Thumb, Janek Hraška, Hansel and Gretel, Pinocchio, and others. The author and director have strived to craft a balanced narrative that emphasizes the distinction between moral values, with a healthy dose of humor—sometimes even dark humor. A grandfather and grandmother, weary of the monotony of poverty and old age, are miraculously reunited with their son. The old man carves him out of a log to “fool” his wife, but lo and behold, a lively little boy emerges from the log, much to his parents’ delight and the witch’s chagrin. The battle over her pond—and who will devour whom—is interspersed with humorous episodes featuring the resourceful Filipko, a cowardly blacksmith who promises even the impossible just to avoid the witch’s threats. Particularly poetic are the scenes where Filipko joins forces with wild geese, who help him take flight, much like the mythical Icarus. Filipko, with wings gifted by the geese, is a very striking image even as a puppet—a metaphor for how to cope in the hardest moments, how to literally rise above life’s hardships. The way the actors handle the puppets is also unconventional; it’s a combination of simple marionettes and hand puppets familiar from The Muppet Show (the witch). The set, puppets, and costumes for the actors—including the director and composer—were created by a multidisciplinary team from Belarus. The creators are renowned in the world of puppetry not only for their many international awards but also for the quality of their authentic puppetry art.

The production is suitable for children ages 4 and up.

Cast: Beáta Dubielová, Erika Orgován Molnárová, Juraj Fotul, Miroslav Kolbašský.

Review: monitoringdivadiel.sk

Performance start times: 9:00 a.m. / 10:30 a.m. / 2:00 p.m.

Venue: Puppet Theater