The Hungarian Theatre of Cluj begins the New Year with a premiere: the stage adaptation of Chekhov's short story Romance with a Double Bass, entitled Short Story of a Double Bass, a production directed by Francisco Alfonsin. The premiere of the play will take place on Saturday, January 13, at 6 pm, in the studio space built upon the Main Stage. Next performance: Sunday, January 14, at 8 pm.

The novel tells the story of the encounter between Princess Bibulova and Pitsikatoff, a double bass player who has lost his way in life. The performance depicts the impossibility of our human relationships, it portrays human existence suspended in time and space, in search of a way out, a production aided by a rich tapestry of music and movement. The story, which takes place in an unusual theatrical setting, within the "forest" of viewers, came to life as the result of the creative effort of a community.

According to director Francisco Alfonsín, he has long been preoccupied with the idea of staging this short story: "Checkhov story, as the performance itself, has several endings, which at a certain time begin to act like new beginnings. The story will never end, we go on, then we will split up, we try other avenues, but we never truly meet. Calderón says life is a dream. For Chekhov, reality is so powerful that it seems almost dreamlike at times. What I am most interested in is the collision of dream and reality in the theatre as well, in the very point where poetry is born."

Cast: Kinga Ötvös, Gábor Viola and János Platz, who are joined by video recordings of Balázs Bodolai, Zsolt Bogdán and Loránd Farkas. Set and costume designer: Carmencita Brojboiu, playwright: Demeter Kata. Music by Alex Catona, with the participation of Ábel Barabás and Kinga Ötvös. Instrumentation: Loránd Farkas and Attila Antal; band members: Loránd Farkas, Szabolcs Balla, Attila Antal, Gábor Bajusz. Lyrics by Edó Gergely, Balázs Bodolai and Paco Alfonsín.

Tickets can be purchased at the theater’s ticket office, as well as online at www.biletmaster.ro.