In Podgorica, I had a little nervousness

They tell the story of an invincible friendship that transcends territorial borders, religious and national similarities and differences, and even socio-political circumstances. Momo Kapor i Zuko Dzumhur, combining fiction and historical facts in the text "Green Choya of Montenegro".

Their story about the unusual friendship between Prince Nikola and Osman Pasha, who was captured by the Montenegrin army in the famous battle at Vučje dol, was told receptively, intimately, emotionally and humorously by the team of the play "Green choja of Montenegro" led by the director Nikita Milivojević.

In the co-production of the City Theater Podgorica, JU "Grad Teatar" from Budva and the Belgrade Drama Theater, the entire ensemble of the play went through great challenges during the process that took place in several stages due to the corona virus pandemic. And they also suffered losses, primarily actors and friends Milan Lanet Gutović i Marko Živić. However, nothing prevented the artists from wanting to show the story of friendship that is sincere, devoted, permanent, and which is necessary in all times, and as such is always the greatest challenge for man.

After several changes, the Montenegrin actor Bozidar Zuber, was doing a double job - two roles that belonged to his colleagues. In addition, the challenge was more that he got involved in all this right before the performance of the play in Serbia, while at the same time he was working on the new premiere at the City Theater, the play "The Taming of the Shrew", which according to the text William Shakespeare, adapt and direct Dejan Projkovski.

How demanding it was to jump into two roles, accept them and adapt to yourself in a short period of time, Zuber reveals in an interview with "Vijesti" right after the premiere of the long-awaited "Choja" in Podgorica.

"The process of jumping into a play is always very stressful, because people work on the play for two or two and a half months to get to the final act, which culminates in the premiere when everything falls into place. I was literally on the day of the performance of the play in Užice, at the festival, when we were all together waiting for the premiere, and before that I worked with the director and other crew members. It looks like you're working on your text - on stage and with the director, but everything imagined. While I'm playing, it doesn't really happen, you don't have a sense of the scene and your colleagues. That's why there's a big difference when you make points in your head and when you get into the space, stand on stage and everyone is there around you. Honestly, it happens that you get swallowed up by that real atmosphere, you get confused, you don't know what's going on, and all because you prepared for it without them. Which is not bad. With all that goes on and befalls you, I have to admit that I basically love all that energy. It's stressful, nervous, difficult, but it's really something special, and it's challenging for me. I can't sleep, I can't even relax, but I'm attracted to it and I enjoy it, I'm hungry, that's all I think about, it encourages me to overcome myself... But I'm not allowed to talk publicly, lest they find me. (laughs) ) Of course, I would not like to work like that all the time, not only because of my career, but also because a person can burn out - both mentally and physically. Certainly, it was a big challenge", says Zuber, who is the narrator and duke Vukašin in the play.

The cast of the play consists of: Miloš Pejović, Dejan Đonović, Andrija Kuzmanović, Simo Trebješanin, Jelena Simić, Maja Stojanović, Branimir Brstina, Ivan Tomić, Milorad Damjanović, Ivan Zablaćanski i Stefan Radonjic, and Zuber replaced the previously elected Emir Ćatović who is currently undergoing professional development.

Despite the fact that he joined the ensemble later, it is not felt on stage, but both roles are meant for him. Relaxed play with improvised jokes that encourage the audience to react, laugh, applaud, and even communicate, makes Zuber the host of this piece, as he felt in Podgorica, and this was noticed and welcomed by the audience in neighboring countries.

"There were good reactions from the audience in Užice, Sarajevo, and Belgrade, but in Podgorica, the play really "sat" to me, and I think that the longer and more it is performed, it will gain more charm, spontaneity and wit that each of us possesses, and over time it will just to live. The audience reacts very well in all those places. We are still the country of the former Yugoslavia and we are all interested in what is being done and created somewhere in the neighborhood. Everyone reacted beautifully, and the reactions of the critics were also excellent", Zuber points out and admits that before the performance in the KIC "Budo Tomović" was still nervous.

"I have to admit that I was a little nervous in Podgorica, but it wasn't the kind of nervousness that stops me, but the kind that encourages me. The responsibility is the same and great everywhere, no matter where the piece is played, but this was an opportunity as if people came to my house, because this is my theater, so some of my audience is there, so that made me extra positive fear. The challenge is more to play at home. The audience pleasantly surprised me, especially after all the miracles that happened with this show, not to repeat, since the pandemic and losses".

But, regardless of everything, he managed easily, with very few corrections, he says.

"There were very few corrections. Of course, when you jump in, you look at what they were doing, but you have your own character and your own space. I stuck to Emir's outline of that event and his character, but with my stamp, of course", explains Zuber, whose stamp can be felt in the play, and he adds that the entire ensemble "clicked".

"In general, we all got along. We are similar in sensibility in private too, and that contributed a lot to us on stage. The performance is extremely lively and very compact. The energy flows, it overflows and it doesn't matter how old one is, we all play everything, we play together... I'm especially glad because I play with some great actors, and there's also Andrija, who is my classmate. I can freely say that we are also life partners. This is our first play that we do together, and it's not one of those at the university," Zuber reveals to "Vijesta".

In addition to directing, Nikita Milivojević also worked on adaptation and costume design Jelena Stokuća, is in charge of the music Aleksandar Srebric, and she did stage movement Amalia Bennett. The artistic director of the City Theatre, Dušan Kovačević, previously said that one of the reasons for choosing this text was that it points to the importance of friendship, unity, empathy and trust.

"We live in a time when the lack of empathy is very pronounced, where human relations are disturbed... King Nikola and Osman Pasha found themselves in a situation that is historically very important, and which encourages emotion and a broad perspective of nobility in people who are side of the fiercest enemies, but still respect, appreciate and love each other. That's why this story is great and fits in with the rest of the repertoire this year, because it deals with interpersonal relationships and the problems of a small man in relation to the system or another man", Kovačević said at the time, and Zuber continued:

"I don't live like that. I have my circle of friends, but I see that most of them live in such a way that one wonders who these people are today and how they are like that... There are people who have absolutely no empathy, they are closed, cold. I'm talking in general, about the environment, about society, far from wanting to offend anyone. But we are, we have become a society without empathy, everyone lives for himself, so it's easy to forget about others, friends, godfather, brother, parents... It's as if the world is cooling down. I know it's a pandemic, I know it's poverty, I know it's hard for everyone, but again, a hundred years ago there was a fever, so people were people and they were warm," says Zuber.

And when asked by "Vijesti" whether Allah and God might have been friends earlier, during the time of princes Nikola and Osman Pasha, he says:

"They gamble together for sure, just like they say in the play. (laughter) In this regard, I think that the concepts of camaraderie and friendship are above any religion, above any nation and all divisions. A man is a man, a friend is a friend, religion and nation do not matter here. The only question is, are you or are you not human? I'm well-mannered like that and I'm proud of it. I have really good and sincere friends who surround me, and I can say that maybe I was lucky, but I myself wanted it, strived for it and paved my way to get them in my life", answers the actor.

Theater audiences will soon be able to see Zuber in the play "The Taming of the Shrew", whose premiere has been postponed to January. He does not want to reveal too much, but he is sure that the play will breathe and the audience will enjoy it, he says. In addition, although he does not plan too much, he is ready for future challenges, he says.

"It happens to me that I don't do anything for a couple of months, and then I manage to do three plays at the same time. I finished filming the series 'Game of Fate', now we're waiting for the premiere of 'The Taming of the Shrew', and then something new will start... Whatever comes, I'm next. The main thing is that we are alive and healthy, I am satisfied with that", he concludes.