The promotion of the book of selected dramas on Prince Mihailo was held in the Madlena Art Palace at 7 p.m. on Thursday, 21 December.
The persons participating in the promotion were: assistant professor Dr Jelena Perić, professor Dr Boško Suvajdžić, actors Ivona Kurstudić and Dragan Petrović Pele, while the book was edited by Radomir Putnik. The promotion was opened by MS Slavka Ilić, manager and head of the Zepter Book World bookstore, who introduced the book “Knez Mihailo-Balkanski Hamlet” as a selection of dramas written by Serbian authors.
In the very beginning, we heard a fragment from the drama “Knez Mihailo” by Svetlana Velmar Janković, which was performed by actors Ivona Kustudić and Dragan Petrović.
In the introductory part, Dr Jelena Perić stated that the title of the book was assumed from the drama “Ubiše Knjaza” (The Prince was Killed) by Živorad Žika-Lazić, while Radomir Putnik, the editor of the book (formerly the signatory of the script for the TV series “The End of the Obrenović Dynasty”) collected the total of 7 dramatic scripts on Prince Mihailo Obrenović, including a description of the last years of his life. The first text dates back from 1869; this is a piece by Đorđe Maletić Apoteoz, writer who was a close friend and associate of the Obrenović Dynasty. It was this drama with which the edifice of the National theatre was opened on 30 October 1869. Beside this archaic 19-century drama, the collection comprises six more modern dramas from 20 and 21 centuries: “Posmrtna slava Kneza Mihaila Obrenovića” (Posthumous Glory of Prince Mihailo Obrenović), then “Ubiše Knjaza”, “Topčiderska katastrofa” (The Catastrophe in Topčider), “Knez Mihailo” (Prince Mihailo, by Svetlana Velmar Janković), “Smrt na Izletu” (Death on a Picknick, by Miladin Ševrlić), “Anastas” (by Zorica Simović), and drama “Knjaz” (by Miodrag Mija Ilić). Dr Perić said that these dramas could help us encounter the Prince in a somewhat different light than that shed by meager historic sources. Namely, she highlighted his private live and the amatory suffering he experienced.
Dr Boško Suvajdžić stated his position on the contribution provided by these dramatic, genre-wise different texts on the life of Prince Mihailo and cultural endeavor behind them, as well as the fateful historic event, namely the assassination, which was covered by all European media, with a headline in a Parisian newspaper running: ‘The Hamlet of the Balkans is Dead!”. Having reflected on the extraordinary and complex personality of Prince Mihailo, Dr Suvajdžić mentioned certain poems with poetic narratives on this unfortunate ruler. He believes that the destiny of Serbia, torn apart between the East and the West, with its tragic political developments, wars, and permanent conflicts, actually makes fertile soil for development of historic dramas.
In the end, the final speech was given by playwright and the editor of the book Radomir Putnik, who has a rich experience in dramatization of historic dramas and literary shaping of characters from the Obrenović family.
The promotion was attended by renowned guests from public life as well as a large number of citizens.
