‘The Seagull and I’ is a spirited musical packed with emotion, provocation, chaos, songs, humor and swearing

At Split’s packed Prokurative, the audience sang along to a new musical that promises much more than light summer entertainment. “The Seagull and I” arrived as an exuberant Dalmatian jukebox production, but beneath its songs, costumes, video, scenery, sound and lighting, the show carries grief, provocation and inner conflict.

The musical, whose libretto and direction come from Ivan Leo Lemo, is built around songs by the legendary Tomislav Zuppa, Jakša Fiamengo and Momčilo Popadić. Some audience members took to it immediately, while others began to criticize it. Most, however, rewarded the musical numbers and performers with applause as familiar and less familiar songs filled the venue.

At the center of Lemo’s story is Sandra Grunberg, a wealthy, ambitious 50-year-old German woman with two doctorates. Played by drama lead Sandra Lončarić, Sandra comes to Split for the first time to find her father. Her mother revealed the identity of the father, the charming Split man Ivo, only while dying, recalling a memorable night during a summer in the city beneath Marjan.

Sandra stays at the Rosmarinus hotel, run by Terezija Beljo, a tough Herzegovinian with experience managing a hotel in Međugorje. Nera Stipčević plays the role, while Mia Roknić brings comic energy as municipal inspector Zorica Zvončac Žnjan through complicated rhyming monologues. Pere Eranović plays Val Morski, a fairly typical Dalmatian who adores Salona.

The review also highlights Aneta Gotovac as Nadalina, Marijan Nejašmić Banić in memorable dual roles as Galeb Ivo and his son Mali Ivo, and energetic performances by Luka Nižetić, Nikolina Vujević and Goran Popović. Tarik Filipović appears near the end as the narrator and Sandra’s former fiancé, now a successful entrepreneur.