The Convert. Count Potocki of Vilnius

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The Convert. Count Potocki of Vilnius

Sholom Zelmanovich

Artistic Director Jonas Vaitkus

Directed by Albertas Vidžiūnas

Dramatic legend

Running time: 1h 50min

Premiered on: 15 June 2024

The Great Auditorium

Creative Group

The Convert. Count Potocki of Vilnius The Convert. Count Potocki of Vilnius The Convert. Count Potocki of Vilnius The Convert. Count Potocki of Vilnius The Convert. Count Potocki of Vilnius The Convert. Count Potocki of Vilnius

Artistic Director: Jonas Vaitkus

Directed by: Albertas Vidžiūnas

Set and Lighting Design by: Artūras Šimonis

Projection Design by: Agnė Marcinkevičiūtė

Costume Design by: Jolanta Rimkutė

Score by: Rita Mačiliūnaitė

Choreography by: Leokadija Dabužinskaitė

Stage Manager: Nadežda Pereverzeva

Literary Consultant: Gytis Norvilas

Translated from Yiddish into Lithuanian by Roza Bieliauskienė

Translated into Russian by Aleksandra Šalkinė and Anastasija Archipova

The Pure Prayer translated into Lithuanian and Russian by Lara Lempertienė

Consultants: Vilma Gradinskaitė, Lara Lempertienė

The Convert. Count Potocki of Vilnius is a three-act composite libretto by Jonas Vaitkus, based on the artist and writer Sholom Zelmanovich’s dramatic legend Ger Tzedek. Count Potocki of Vilna, works of visual art, as well as written and oral sources of Jewish culture.

Ger tzedek is a Hebrew term for a convert to the Jewish faith. The convert Count Potocki is partly a historical figure – a man burnt at the stake for his beliefs in Vilnius 275 years ago. In his play, Zelmanovich adapted an old Jewish legend about a rich Christian youth who converted to Judaism. This tale has become an integral part of Jewish folklore not only in Vilnius, but also throughout Eastern Europe.

There are several distinct layers in the production: the love between Count Potocki and Judith, and the duality of the nobleman’s nature (two souls live within him). The drama is accompanied by a strong desire to self-purify, to repent for sins, to strive for innocence. The count is a truth-seeker, and confession becomes his constant leitmotif. Fire cleanses best, but in this case, it acts as an executioner, a punisher. Could we still die for our convictions – and would it be worth it? Where is the line between self-sacrifice, bigotry and naivety? And, more generally, isn’t the pursuit of purity, modesty and moderation at odds with the ideology of “good life” that prevails today?

Zelmanovich builds a vibrant Jewish world in the play, revealing this nation’s history, religion and traditions. The lively, colourful and mystical scenes dramatically highlight the characters’ states of mind. Meanwhile, the tragic fate of the nobleman, who renounced everything for the sake of his faith, highlights society’s anxiety and cruelty, intertwined with deep piety. In the performance, languages (Yiddish, Lithuanian, Russian, Hebrew) clash and jostle – as if in the streets of the long-faded Vilnius, witnessing an already lost civilisation.

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Sholom Zelmanovich (1898 – 1941 ?) is a Vilnius-born painter and writer. When the Polish army occupied Vilnius in 1919, Zelmanovich moved to Kaunas, where he worked as an assistant decorator at the State Theatre, designed sets and costumes for Kaunas Hebrew Theatre, held two major personal exhibitions, and was highly productive in general. Lithuanian journalists of the interwar period wrote not only about Zelmanovich’s work, but also about his adventures – the artist was an exceptional personality in the life of Kaunas’ bohemia. His eccentric sincerity attracted the public, making Zelmanovich a regular at various parties and get-togethers.

Performed in Lithuanian, Russian and Yiddish with captions. If you want to see the captions clearly, we recommend choosing seats in the stalls from the 7th row.

Photos by Dmitrij Matvejev

Main photo of the performance - Laura Vansevičienė

Cast

Grafas Potockis, Abraomas Ben Abraomas – Ger cedekas – Maksim Tuchvatulin

Halevi – Viačeslav Lukjanov / Valentinas Krulikovskis

Judita – Aleksandra Metalnikova

Grafienė Potocki – Ger cedeko motina – Anžela Bizunovič

Iljos Rabinas – Dmitrij Denisiuk

Penuelis; Nepažįstamasis; Juokdarys – Aleksandr Agarkov

Kunigaikštis Sapiega – Jurij Ščiuckij

Sinagogos patarnautojas; Parnesas – Sergej Zinovjev (1955 m. gruodžio 26 d. – 2025 m. sausio 12 d.)

Juditos žvaigždė – Jelena Juščenko