NATHAN THE WISE

Two part play

Didžioji scena

Author: Gotthold Ephraim Lessing

Director: Gintaras Varnas

Set designer: Gintaras Makarevičius

Costume designer: Juozas Statkevičius

Puppet designer: Julija Skuratova

Composer: Vidmantas Bartulis

Visual artist: Rimas Sakalauskas

Cocreator: Antanas Obcarskas

Actors: Vytautas Anužis, Dainius Svobonas, Vainius Sodeika, Arnas Ašmonas, Eglė Špokaitė, Egidijus Stancikas, Jovita Jankelaitytė, Vilija Grigaitytė, Saulius Čiučelis, Liubomiras Laucevičius, Sigitas Šidlauskas, Vaidas Maršalka, Gintautas Bejeris, Artūras Sužiedėlis, Andrius Gaučas, Dovydas Pabarčius

Duration – 2 hours 45 minutes (with intermission)

Once upon a time in the Eastern lands there lived a man who had a magical ring. Whoever wore the ring was followed by God’s grace and glory. The ring was always passed from one generation to another to the most beloved son in the family. Once, however, it ended up in the hands of a man who had three sons whom he loved equally. The man could not make up his mind to whom he should give the ring. Before his death, he went to see the jeweller and asked him to make two more such rings. Then he secretly gave a ring to each of his sons and passed away. When the sons saw that all of them had rings, they began quarrelling and arguing. Which ring is the real one? Which two are worthless copies? Who is destined to become the chosen one? Three religions – Judaism, Christianity, Islam – even nowadays try to prove that only one of them is true and fair.

Nathan the Wise, a utopian tale of the Age of Enlightenment (18th century), exalts the human mind and the power to make the world prefect and tries to convince us that three sons – three religions – can live in peace and harmony.