Priit Pedajas staged The Dog and the Monkey at the Oskaras Koršunovas Theatre in Vilnius

On September 16th 2023, Priit Pedajas's production of The Dog and the Monkey (Šuo ir Beždžionė in Lithuanian), based on Friedebert Tuglas's short story Popi and Huhuu, premiered at the Oskaras Koršunovas Theatre (OKT) in Vilnius.

"The atmosphere in the world is quite nervous right now. Friedebert Tuglas wrote his short story just before the First World War, at a time when the atmosphere was also very tense and nervous. So today's atmosphere is quite similar to the mood then. Nobody knows what the future will be, and there is no certainty. All historical experience shows that humanity can become incredibly brutal during war," says the Estonian director Priit Pedajas in an interview with the Lithuanian press.

One day, when the master leaves home and does not return, Popi the dog and Huhuu the monkey are left waiting in vain for their master. Pedajas's wordless production tells the story of the loneliness and the bond between two creatures left to their own devices, of power struggles and yearning, of fear and habituation. And destruction. Two radically different poles intertwine in the production – the dog's loyalty, endless affection, desire to obey. The monkey is like a symbol of unbridled anarchy, eager to sit on the throne, with a pulsating desire to rule by the most extreme means.

In Lithuania, the role of the Monkey is played by Eglė Mikulionyte, the Dog by Saulium Siparis and the Master by Karolis Norvilas, with scenography by Aleksandra Jacovskytė, costume design by Aleksandra Jacovskytė, and sound design by Priit Pedajas. The idea of staging the production in Lithuania came from the playwright and screenwriter Hugo Ader, who lives and works in Lithuania.

Eglė Mikulionyte, a respected Lithuanian actress and director, who plays the role of a monkey in the production, describes Priit Pedajas: "He is 'cosmic', a real master. Priit says everything is very simple, nothing needs to be done. But there's a long way to go before you 'don't have to do anything'. Pedajas was introduced to us as the Estonian Nekrošius. Perhaps we were more afraid of Eimuntas Nekrošius. Priit is more communicative, you can talk to him more about everything."

Pedajas has directed Tuglas's short story before: in October 2000 he staged Popi and Huhuu at the Estonian Drama Theatre, where Popi was played by Taavi Teplenkov and Huhuu by Tiit Sukk.

Foto: OKT / Vilniaus Miesto Teatras