[…] The idea of engaging Joanna Lewicka – a young, ambitious and feisty director with a vision – resulted with a hit. […] The artistic team not only came back to its best shape when it comes to singing and dancing but also successfully handled the complex dramaturgy that the director has managed to squeeze out of the libretto.

It was simply pleasant to watch (and hear) despite the performance lasting nearly three hours and half. Keeping the audience’s focus was even more challenging for the choir and ballet dancers as the set design and decorations were kept to a neat minimalist minimum. Luckily both the choir (fabulous entrances) and the ballet (perfectly trained especially for the suites) coped perfectly. For the first time in a long time at the Music Theatre in Lublin, its physical space has been finally given a real “role” too as the stage was creatively arranged to use its entire depth. All it took to succeed was a little bit of artistic vision [of Ms. Joanna Lewicka] and a lot of hard work coordinated by the choir director prof. Grzegorz Pecki. The modern staging has not conflicted with the conservative music thanks to brilliant staging ideas that have proven moving (such as the perfect entry of little Lizzie), hilarious (for example the entry of the Witlewski as Fu-Li) or simply impressive (like golden costumes so huge that they have practically replaced set decorations at the beginning of Act II).

After years of turmoil and probably of excessive caution, the Musical Theater of Lublin has finally satisfied the audience. It delivered a loveable operetta by matching the popular title with a sincere vision taken to life by a wide range of talents. What more could you ask for?

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To się po prostu bardzo dobrze ogląda. (…) Twórcy spektaklu postawili na minimalizm dekoracji i scenografii, a więc to na czynniku ludzkim spoczywa konieczność całkowitego przykucia uwagi widza. Ale i chór, w świetnych wejściach zbiorowych, jak i balet, znakomicie poprowadzony zwłaszcza w suitach, radzą sobie z tym zadaniem doskonale. Po raz pierwszy od dawna „gra” też scena naszego lubelskiego Teatru. (…) Wystarczyło trochę wizji artystycznej, dużo ciężkiej pracy pod kierunkiem kierownika chóru, prof. dr hab. Grzegorza Pecki i okazało się, że można odnieść sukces. Można i to dużo więcej. Znakomicie broni się inscenizacja, nowoczesna, co jednak nie razi w zderzeniu z konserwatywną muzyką. Są pomysły, które wzruszają (…), są momenty do śmiechu (…), są zaiście imponujące. (…)