"Ladies and Hussars": Is Count Fredro's benevolent jest about women a challenge for political correctness today?

The Teatr Klasyki Polskiej is bringing Aleksander Fredro's classic comedy "Damy i huzary" (Ladies and Hussars) to audiences across Poland. Directed by Karolina Labahua, this production is part of a larger tour that has already presented other Fredro works like "Zemsta" (Revenge), "Śluby panieńskie" (Maidens' Vows), and "Dożywocie" (Life Annuity).

The play, a staple of Polish theater, tells the story of officers enjoying leisure at the estate of an old soldier, Major. Their bachelor world is disrupted by the arrival of the Major's three sisters, leading to a clash of preferences and intricate plots. The women aim to arrange a marriage between the Major's brother and their niece, Zosia, for financial reasons.

"Ladies and Hussars" has historically been popular in Poland, with notable past productions including Olga Lipińska's 1973 television spectacle and Edward Dziewoński's 1977 stage adaptation, which featured prominent actors like Jan Kobuszewski. The current tour has been met with warm reception, and the play is set to be a highlight of the Fredro festival in Warsaw's Łazienki Park in July.