Fondacija Mozzart premieres 'Ljubinko i Desanka,' a poignant exploration of love and loneliness

In a world where human connection often feels like a forgotten art, the Fondacija Mozzart's theater of humanity is bringing a poignant new production to the stage. "Ljubinko i Desanka," based on the text by Aca Popović, is set to premiere on April 29th, with a preview on April 28th at their venue on Cara Dušana 35 in Dorćol. This play delves into the universal human quest for love, even in the face of loneliness and isolation.

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The audience pays for a ticket because they don't know what to expect. I wouldn't want to reveal too much, but there is the director's idea about what this story tells and why it is being done today, at this time when people are alienated from each other and it seems they have no way to reach out to each other, because emotion has somehow become a weakness along the way.

The ensemble, featuring prominent actors Ljubomir Bandović, Janko Cekić, and Aleksandra Vulanović, with Goran Šušljik directing, promises a layered exploration of contemporary human fears, desires, and the fundamental need for connection. Bandović, portraying August, described the character as someone who lives in the present, dreaming of a future where he is loved, reflecting the anxieties of modern alienation. He noted that the play addresses why such a story is relevant today, in a time when people seem to have lost the ability to reach out to one another, viewing emotion as a weakness.

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We have an entertaining, witty, and exciting performance ahead of us, which is at the same time touching, emotional, intimate, and poignant.

Aleksandra Vulanović, taking on the role of Desanka, highlighted the emotional richness of the performance, calling it "entertaining, witty, and exciting, yet simultaneously touching, intimate, and poignant." Janko Cekić, as Ljubinko, emphasized the play's core theme: the universal human need for love and connection. He described Ljubinko as representing any man today, isolated despite perceived digital connectivity, yearning for genuine interaction and to be heard. The director, Goran Šušljik, believes audiences will find themselves reflected in the story, experiencing recognition, smiles, and a deep emotional resonance, asserting that great plays speak to all people across all times.

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This is a warm story about three people who are lonely and have a need for contact, conversation, a need to be loved and to love.

The actors collectively described the play with terms like "melancholic farce," "discovery," "encounter," and "circus," hinting at its unique and complex atmosphere. While the line between comedy and tragedy may blur, the underlying message is clear: a profound exploration of human loneliness and the enduring search for love and belonging in an increasingly disconnected world. This production, from the heart of Belgrade, offers a timely reminder of our shared humanity.

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Ljubinko is every man today, because at the current moment all over the world people are alienated, as much as they think they are connected through social networks and think they have influence and relationships with other people, but in reality they don't. Ljubinko is a lonely man who wants to tell something and for someone to hear him.