The Duel

THE FATHERLAND IS DEAR... And so, "The Duel". The duel that never stops within us and in the world. A duel for honor, which in this case is the well-known and ruthless pride. Pride, this most dangerous madness for the human soul. The new state seems to flourish, but it also corrupts just as quickly. The flame of the revival spirit of liberation fades, devastated by the influence of the great powers and the thirst for power and lawlessness that has appeared in the new Bulgarian elites. In 1885, Vazov wrote: Bulgarians, they died for you, one was worthy of them, and they were worthy mothers for you, and only your name did they speak as they died without fear. But already, in 1892, when the first version of "The Duel" was written, the poet puts the following words into the mouths of his heroes: "No one today respects the laws," "A man – a decolletage in the mind," "Absence of any presence." This pain of the poet seems understandable to us, the modern occupiers of our own homeland. But still, it is sad. Why did we allow this? Why do we continue to be absent? Why are our true battles postponed "for some other century"? Why are we an "absence of any presence"? Hope is without despair to pray to God for forgiveness and salvation. And to help. And in the theater, in this our performance, which combines pain, attraction, and the speed of modern thought for today's man, let us smile with meekness and whisper: Forgive us, Poet. Marius Kurkinsky "THE DUEL" ON THE STAGE OF THE NATIONAL THEATER 1963. Direction – Anastas Mihaylov. In the roles: Tihol Chushkarov – Georgi Popov, Racho Dragalevski – Georgi Radanov, Tsochev – Ivan Stefanov, Dr. Veselinov – Pencho Petrov, Amalia – Mila Padareva, Mrs. Trifkovich – Marta Popova, Magda Kolchakova, Rayna Chavdarova – Kina Tikhova, Karakalpakov – Petko Karlukovski, Demira – Sofka Atanasova, Jew – Veselin Simeonov. 1980. Direction – Nikola Petkov. In the roles: Tihol Chushkarov – Velko Kunev, Georgi Mamalev, Racho Dragalevski – Kiril Kavardarkov, Tsochev – Lyuben Zhelezkov, Dr. Veselinov – Stefan Dimitrov, Amalia – Vancha Doicheva, Mrs. Trifkovich – Violeta Bahchevanova, Rayna Chavdarova – Milena Atanasova, Karakalpakov – Anton Radichev, Demira – Maria Stefanova, Angelina Sarova, Jew – Dinko Dinev. 1999. Direction – Nikolay Lambev. In the roles: Tihol Chushkarov – Dimitar Rachkov, Racho Dragalevski – Andrey Batashov, Tsochev – Marius Donkin, Dr. Veselinov – Nikolay Kostadinov, Amalia – Anya Pencheva, Mrs. Trifkovich – Vancha Doicheva, Rayna Chavdarova – Bilyana Petrinska, Karakalpakov – Nikolay Urumov, Demira – Carla Rahal, The Madman – Yordan Evrosiev, Mihail – Marian Bachev, Guards – Kiril Efremov, Yavor Karaivanov, Hristo Petkov, Oncho Alexanyan, Marian Bachev, Chushkarov's men – Hristo Petkov, Yavor Karaivanov, Yana Trifonova, Oncho Alexanyan, Stanislav Matev, Naydya Panayotova, Yulian Balakhurov, Angelina Hadzhimitova, Tsochev's bodyguards – Yavor Ralinov, Vladimir Alexandrov, Dragalevski's men – Petar Dimov, Zdravko Metodiev, Rosen Belov, Svetlin Ivanov, Adrian Filipov, Yordan Chapkov, Kiril Efremov, The girls from Orpheum – Valeria Kardashevska, Iva Karamancheva, Tatyana Toteva, Svetla Rudeva.