Duel

Dignity and honor—two concepts that Grandpa Vazov was already discovering in his contemporaries.

His comedy Duel may perhaps be an attempt to “humanize” our relationships a little. Vazov’s characters are still alive today, and their relationships continue to intrigue directors and actors. Perhaps because nothing has changed, and we continue irresponsibly to heap slander and insults upon one another without thinking about the consequences.

In any case, the Yambol production of Duel is charged with emotion—not least because it is directed by one of the most skillful interpreters of Vazov’s works.

“Why Vazov again? Well, because creating Bulgarian theater without Bulgarian drama is unthinkable. And because the answer to the question of who we are and what we are like today lies there, in the treasury of our national classics. In Vazov. Because for so many years, our attempts to resemble someone else have only emphasized the infantilism of our immature nation. And because it is a comedy. There are no ‘low’ and ‘high’ genres, only good and bad plays. Vazov’s Duel is undoubtedly one of the gems of our national drama. So: ‘Enjoy the show!’”

— Borislav Chakrinov, director