LOLITA

The magic that follows the word Lolita, meaning the mixture of the innocence and eroticism, has not been fading since the occurrence of the novel “Lolita” by Vladimir Nabokov, published in 1955. The novel of the great Russian-American writer is considered to be one of the most controversial books of the twentieth century. The puritanical attitudes have very often disputed the novel, but the top literary critics, despite its controversial theme, have never denied the high literary achievement of Nabokov’s “Lolita”.    

All over the world, through the film, drama, ballet, there have been various versions about a thirty-eight Literature Professor, Humbert Humbert, who falls in love with a twelve year old Dolores Haze, nicknamed Lolita (nymphet). Lolita is a daughter of Humbert’s landlady at whom he hires a room. He rationally defines his infatuation with her as awakening the memory on his first love from his boyhood, Annabel, who died of typhoid fever. When the landlady Charlotte dies, considering that Humbert has married her, he takes custody of Lolita with whom he embarks a kind of road trip across America. 

A talented team of the young theatre artists is preparing for the small stage of „Madlenianum“ their view of this love story which is becoming even more intriguing at the present moment when the questions of human rights are examined anew. The play director, Jovana Tomic, finds the new approaches and new interpretations of Nabokov’s controversial love story in these modern times where even the timing of the puberty age is changing, as well as the ways of communication among generations. The first associates of Jovana Tomic are a playwright, Dimitrije Kokanov, a costume designer, Darinka Mihajlovic and a choreographer, Maja Kalafatic. The team of actors is led by Bojan Zirovic, in the role of Humbert and the audience will watch young Ana Mandic in the title role. Other roles are assigned to Irma Milovic and Pedja Marjanovic. 

The project “Lolita” has been chosen in the Competition of “Madlenianum” that was intended for young theatre artists and supported by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Serbia as one of the significant plays of young authors in 2015. The premiere of “Lolita” is planned for 14th November. “Madlenianum” is a theatre ready for provocation which the young authors have offered in their idea to prepare Nabokov’s work on the stage and we are sure that Belgrade theatre audience is also ready for that event!