Radúz and Mahulena
Radúz and Mahulena is an 1898[1] stage play by Czech novelist Julius Zeyer.
Story
Zeyer’s dramatic poem is one of the most beautiful love stories to have graced a Czech stage. Classical fairy-tale motifs wed with mythological references joined together with bravado through a metaphorical language. Radúz and Mahulena, from feuding kingdoms, surmount on behalf of their love not only the wiles of fate, but also the sorceries of Queen Runa, burning with hate. Zeyer gave his play the subheading “A Slovak fairy tale in four acts” and the splendid prologue “I am a fairy tale. I will lead those who join me to the blue lands of fable...”
Besides Slovak myths and fairy tales, he also drew upon the Indian drama Sakuntala by the poet Kalidasa. In doing so, he created an exceptionally impressive work whose centre of gravity is the power of the word augmented by abundant symbolism of colours and natural elements.
Film
- Directed by Petr Weigl.
- Mahulena .... Magda Vašaryová
- Radúz .... Jan Tříska
- Stojmír .... Jiří Adamíra
- Radovíd .... Vladimír Ráž
- Runa .... Jaroslava Adamová
- Prija .... Nada Urbánková
- Živa .... Jaroslava Obermaierová
- Nyola .... Dana Medřická
- Pribina .... Václav Mareš
- Vratko .... Vladimír Menšík
- Maid of Honour .... Marie Popelková
- Lover .... Jiří Hospoda
- Herold .... František Michálek
- Sawyer .... Richard Záhorský
- Singer .... Petr Svojtka
- Dancer .... Miroslav Kura
Theatre
National Theatre, Prague
- Directed by Jan Antonín Pitínský. The premiere had 18 June 2009.
- Mahulena .... Pavla Beretová
- Radúz .... Vojtěch Dyk
- Stojmír .... Alois Švehlík
- Radovid .... Jiří Štěpnička
- Runa .... Johanna Tesařová
- Prija .... Antonie Talacková
- Živa .... Eva Vrbková
- Nyola .... Marie Málková
- Pribina .... Milan Stehlík
- Vratko .... Jan Bidlas
Slezské divadlo, Opava
- Directed by Martin Tomsa. The premiere had 29 March 2009.
- Mahulena .... Dana Macková
- Radúz .... Radovan Labanič
- Stojmír .... Vlastimil Smolík
- Radovíd .... Martin Tomsa
- Runa .... Adéla Kochová
- Prija, Živa .... Petra Španělová, Zuzana Voglová
- Nyola .... Šárka Maršálová
- Pribina .... Jaroslav Velička
- Maid of honour .... Monika Dopitová, Adriana Bajtková
Východočeské divadlo, Pardubice
- Directed by Michael Tarant. The premiere had 18 and 19 October 2008.
- Mahulena, their daughter .... Máša Málková
- Radúz, prince of Magura .... Jan Musil
- Stojmír, king of Tatra .... Josef Vrána
- Radovid, butler of Radúz .... Martin Mňahončák
- Runa, his wife .... Romana Chvalová
- Prija, their daughter .... Petra Janečková
- Živa, their daughter .... Barbora Dipoldová
- Queen Nyola, his mother .... Dagmar Novotná
- Pribina, důvěrník Stojmírův .... Josef Pejchal
- Vratko, sawyer .... Radek Žák
- High Priest .... Jan Hyhlík
- Pythoness .... Lída Vlášková
- Dead King .... Pavel Novotný