A sense of humour is second nature to Dianišek, both as a director and a playwright, and with Jirotka’s original work he clearly felt right at home. He hits the mark precisely where humour tips over into parody or gentle sarcasm, and black humour is no stranger to him either. Above all, his flair for the almost comic-book-style portrayal of characters is key. We get the feeling that the unfolding plot pauses for a moment amidst the individual quips and jokes, and the dialogue enters imaginary comic-book speech bubbles. Yet Dianiška never pushes anything into overt caricature; he works with subtlety and allows the punchlines to resonate. This is also why the musical numbers do not stand apart from the plot, but grow naturally out of it. The songs become part of the dialogue, and the music functions much like the colourful background of a comic strip – it changes the mood, emphasises the situation, whilst allowing the characters to continue playing out Jirotka’s humour.

Dianiška’s musical adaptation of *Saturnin* breathes fresh, playful energy into this First Republic classic, without losing any of its original gentle humour. The story is dominated by superb acting and singing performances, led by the charismatic actor playing the title role of the servant, and Roman Říčař’s lively, well-executed live music. The result is an audience-friendly, rhythmic and visually colourful production that is sure to entertain the whole family.

Bringing Zdeněk Jirotka’s humour to the theatre stage was certainly no easy task. However, the musical *Saturnin* at Prague’s Hybernia Theatre proves that the story of this eccentric servant can still entertain audiences today. The production relies on familiar situations, intelligent humour, a spectacular set and performances that effortlessly bring the legendary characters from the famous novel to life.

Dianišek’s *Saturnin* at Hybernia presents the famous novel as a spectacular musical, but without resorting to cheap sensationalism. The director makes use of live music, dance numbers and musical theatre clichés, whilst at the same time playfully subverting them. The adaptation gradually breaks away from the book, exaggerating the characters into caricatures and drawing on mischievous humour. The most entertaining characters are Milouš and Aunt Kateřina, whilst others (Grandfather, Doctor Vlach) remain more down-to-earth and dryly ironic. The conclusion emphasises the theme of taking responsibility for one’s own life, giving the show a surprisingly serious tone. The symbolic ‘doughnut’ balloons in the epilogue capture the playful, non-didactic and irreverent approach to Jirotka’s work.

An excellent live band, a superb musical production by Roman Říčař, and a cast without a single weak link. Radek Melša and Kateřina Marie Fialová were absolutely exceptional both as actors and singers, but all the performers deserve praise. It is rare to cast a musical in such a way that every role is acted and sung with such ease, precision and energy. Moreover, Tomáš Dianišek succeeded in bringing Jirotka’s humour to the stage with a sense of perspective, elegance and an extraordinary feel for both the tempo and the punchline. The imaginative set design and the production’s brisk pace created an exceptionally successful theatrical experience. Definitely above average amongst current musical productions in Prague. 100%

I was pleasantly surprised by the musical adaptation of *Saturnin*. The live band brings a wonderful energy to the whole performance, and the music works really well. What’s more, Dianiška has created a production that doesn’t merely retell the familiar story, but offers its own interpretation. In terms of the acting, I particularly enjoyed Mr Melša as Jirotka and Ms Bohatová as Aunt Kateřina, who strikes the perfect balance between exaggeration and believability. Z. Kalina is charismatic as Saturnin, although I would have liked the title character to have had a little more screen time in the story. For me, it’s a welcome breath of fresh air on the Prague musical scene and definitely worth seeing. 90%

This is just what Prague needed! At long last, a high-quality musical with a live band, which takes the production to a whole new level. Brilliant music by R. Říčař and direction by T. Dianiška. I appreciate that the production doesn’t simply copy the book or the film, but forges its own path and offers a slightly ‘different Saturnin’. R. Melša is absolutely spot-on as Jirotka, and the role suits him perfectly. Z. Kalina is enchanting in the role of Saturnin (…). K. Bohatová is excellent as Aunt Kateřina; the role could easily have veered into overacting, but Katka strikes a brilliant balance on that fine line. Overall, a very successful and refreshing production. 80%

The musical Saturnin at the Hybernia Theatre is a rousing and refreshing swing-fuelled ride. Director Tomáš Dianiška and musician Roman Říčař have transformed Jirotka’s classic humour into a modern, rhythmic theatre production brimming with superb vocal performances and infectious energy. A brilliant production that thoroughly entertained us and put us in a great mood for the whole evening. 90%