This play will present one of the possible attempts to interpret the life of Giacomo Casanova, whom history has labelled a symbol of untiring and passionate seducer of women. A rich palette of music, film and dance will accompany you on a journey through a part of the life of the famous man, which stood as base for the legend. Our performance will show you one of many possible ways of interpreting the life of Giacomo Casanova who has become a symbol of a relentless and passionate seducer of women.

Historical facts give evidence that this famous globetrotter was an extremely educated and cultured man for his time but that he died a mise rable and forgotten man in the Duchcov Castle in Bohemia. His preserved memoirs are the starting point of our story. The distance between the story?s beginning and end is limited by the length of the performance, yet you will be able to get a glimpse of that period of Casanova?s life which created his myth and formed the legend. This is the magic of theatre. The boy - who in front of your eyes will change into a young man by his Fairy Godmother?s kiss - meets young Angelika at the Venice carnival and falls in genuine love with her. His desire demands everything from her without delay and startled girl runs away from him. He then spends the rest of his life pursuing, finding and losing her again. Lucia is the first to give in to his charm, Nanetta and Marticka prepare him for his "march on Rome" and even Bettina, the generally admired and courted dancer, does not resist him. Casanova becomes successful, rich and equally admired and hated but gradually boredom creeps into his heart and mind. When arrested he contemplates whether to die or to escape. Does he gain insight from his dilemmas?

The moment he is free, the same story repeats itself. His flirt with Cora lina results in a duel and murder, forcing him to be on the run again. As if chased by the instinct for self-preservation, he turns to Angelika who has been longing for him behind the walls of a nunnery. Casanova is deter mined to change his way of his life but is unable to do so. Leaving Ange lika for another illusion, he ends up in a cabaret pursuing a new flirt. At this point he faces a shocking revelation: all his loves and passions were nothing but a cover for a morbid love of himself. Casanova grows old. His wordly path comes close to its end, nothing but memories and solitude remain. He was unable to give, only to take in handfuls.

But how many men of his kind have passed through this world? And how many Angelikas? A similar story begins every day.

Direction: Juraj Jakubisko
Scene: Josef Svoboda
Music: Zdeněk Merta
Duration: 95 min.