Прем'єра - Євангеліє від Івана

This Sunday sees the Premier of  the Ukrainian-language play Yevanheliye vid Ivana (The Gospel of John) at the Plast Domivka in Etobicoke. The play depicts the life and suffering of a contemporary small Ukrainian farmer Ivan. As Ivan tries to make ends meet and cultivate his land, he is besieged by local bureaucracy, greed and idiocy. His wife is an illegal worker in Italy, all the money that she sends him to build a house - Ivan invests in his farm. 

Ivan's son Kolka, a good-for-nothing slacker, is engaged to a local girl Angela. Kolka does not share his father’s beliefs and always looks for easier ways to earn a living. Other characters include the local "boss", Hrisha – the village elder who always gets in fights with local ruffians and religious fanatics. Petro Hryhorovych – the local medic, veterinarian and Ivan’s ardent defender. Italian and German investors that will test Ivan's strong will and love for his land.

The tragicomedy’s main focus is on Ivan’s gritty determination to get approved for a loan from the local banker Voldyryuk (we can't help but say, he should have gone to his local credit union!*). Ivan relies on "Ukrainian ingenuity" to secure money for his farm by borrowing cattle from local peasants to make his farm look larger and use them as security for his loan.

Will Ivan get money for his farm and survive the onslaught of bureaucratic audits and local bribe collectors? You will find out at the premier of “Evanheliye vid Ivana” by Zahrava Theater at  Plastova Domivka Hutzuliakiv (516 The Kingsway). Ukrainian Credit Union is proud to be a key sponsor of this play. More details about the play can be found in our Events Calendar.

Oleksiy Slyepukhov, an MSR at our North York Branch, plays the role of Silvio, an investor.

Pictures from a recent dress rehearsal are on our FB page in the Євангеліє від Івана album.

* As you may know Ukrainian Credit Union Limited was instrumental in the 90s and 2000s in helping the development of a credit union industry in Ukraine.