Szaffi – A Fairy-Tale Musical in the Repertoire of the Harag György Company

The animated film based on Mór Jókai’s The Gypsy Baron premiered in 1985 and became a defining cinematic experience for many adults today, captivating audiences with its adventurous story. In recent years, a musical adaptation of the story was also created, quickly becoming a favourite among children in Hungary.

This musical was presented by the Harag György Company before a full house, directed by Regina Nagy, as the Romanian premiere of the production.

“We spend our whole lives searching for treasures, yet what we often find is nothing more than mud and pebbles. The real treasure is right in front of our eyes — we simply have to learn to see beyond the glitter, to move past the false intoxication of power, and to resist the sinful path that seduces us with its apparent ease… The list of temptations is long, and human weakness is unfortunately always present, which is why the message itself is timeless. Just as timeless is the hope that people can become better, and if this performance can contribute even a little to that process, then it has already been worthwhile,” said director Regina Nagy.

Following the premiere, Artistic Director István Bessenyei Gedő congratulated the company on the outstanding result of the past weeks’ work.

“Perhaps our most important productions are children’s performances, because through them we shape the audiences of the future and influence their taste. Every such production is an investment in the future. With Szaffi, through tremendous and high-quality work, the company has made a major investment in the future. I would like to thank everyone involved in creating this production, especially director Regina Nagy,” said Bessenyei.

The Szaffi animated film from the 1980s was beloved by many, and now its musical adaptation can be seen for the first time in the repertoire of a theatre in Transylvania. The production is intended both for those who wish to relive the story of Szaffi and Jónás, and especially for children who are not yet familiar with this humorous, romantic, and adventure-filled tale inspired by Mór Jókai’s The Gypsy Baron.

The performance tells the adventurous story of Szaffi, the daughter of a Turkish pasha, and Jónás, an exiled Hungarian nobleman. Jónás returns to his ancestors’ abandoned estate hoping to find treasure, but his fate becomes intertwined with that of the mysterious young woman. Roma characters also play an important role in the story, helping the young protagonists with their wisdom, solidarity, and cheerful spirit. After many misunderstandings and hardships, the secrets of the past are finally revealed, and the heroes find their place in the world. Accompanied by the catchy songs written by János Szemenyei and Attila Galambos, the production focuses on themes such as the longing for freedom, the search for identity, and the importance of acceptance.

Cast: János Szilárd Szabó, Blanka Moldován, Evelyn Budizsa, Gergő Frumen, Zsolt Orbán, Barbara Bogár, Attila Zsolt Péter, Tibor Bodea-Gál, Orbán Nagy, Máté Erdei, Sándor Varga, Nándor Poszet, Johanna Bándi, Ágnes Gál, Annamária Kófity, Attila Diószegi, and Zalán Nagy. Dance ensemble: Antónia Balla, Csilla Lőrinc, Dávid Magyar, and Gellért Vadai.

The set and costume designers of the production are Alexandru M. Radu and Wilhelmina Kuron Bekesi. The choreography was created by Franciska Szabó and Dávid Magyar, with Annamária Manfrédi serving as répétiteur and Blanka Moldován as musical assistant Csongor Zsolt Nagy assisted the actors with stage combat choreography, while Zoltán Fábry served as stage manager and Anna Simionaș Varga as prompter.

The Harag György Company will stage the Szaffi fairy-tale musical several times throughout March. A limited number of tickets are also available for subscription performances.