Events

Klaipėda Youth Theater | Kreicerio Sonata

A stage adaptation of Leo Tolstoy’s short story “The Kreutzer Sonata”

Some consider Leo Tolstoy’s novella *The Kreutzer Sonata* to be his finest work, while others, on the contrary, take issue with the ideas expressed in it. This scandalous work intertwines passionate love, jealousy, and social criticism.

A conversation begins on the train about love, the status of women, family conflicts, and domestic violence. After remaining silent for a long time, the fellow passenger opens up about his unhappy marriage. He married a much younger woman who captivated him with her youthful beauty and innocence. They had five children. However, the man is disillusioned with love and marriage, as their relationship is marked by frequent quarrels, arguments, and discord. He admits that, overcome by jealousy and hatred due to his wife’s close friendship and musical collaboration with a violinist, he kills her.

The confession of a man who murdered his wife is recounted by the classic of Russian literature, the writer Leo Tolstoy, in his novella *The Kreutzer Sonata*. Balancing between feminism and misogyny, the author touches on several relevant themes: family relationships, gender equality, love, passion, and violence. Due to its ideas about marriage and family values, the published novella caused an international scandal—it was banned in both Russia and the United States.

“Kreicerio Sonata,” which explores human relationships, love, sex, jealousy, and paranoia, is being revived on the stage of the Klaipėda Youth Theater. The story depicts the conflict between sexual desire and moral constraints, raising questions that are often left unspoken—questions we are unwilling or unable to answer.

Playwright/Director: Valentinas Masalskis

Cast: Simonas Lunevičius, Vaiva Kvedaravičiūtė

Set Designer: Renata Valčik

Lighting Designer: Julius Kuršis

Duration: 1 hour 20 minutes

Age rating: R

Latecomers will not be admitted to the performance!