Old history

A comedy about young lovers who trick a lecherous old man. The first novel of a Czech classic written on the model of the Italian commedia dell'arte. Already in the title of his dramatic debut, Julius Zeyer confessed to his favourite inspirational roots. In his play The Old History he used types taken from the Italian commedia dell'arte and the situational techniques of Moliere. The play was not a great success in the year of its premiere in 1882. It was not until years later that Karel Čapek, who also directed it, took it over at the Vinohrady Theatre. In 1965, director Jaroslav Chundela staged a comedy about young lovers who trick the lecherous old man Pandolfo in a radio studio. Persons and cast: Pandolfo (Ladislav Simek), Avalanches (Jaroslava Tvrznikova), Zanina (Zdenka Hadrbolcová), Lionato (Antonín Molčík), Pedrolino (Rudolf Jelinek), Trivelino (Jan Skopeček), notary (Ladislav Navrátil) and cook (Miloš Rozhoň).