Back in Russia

It would require quite a long stretch of imagination to call Warsaw Poland's dynamic cultural center, but the recent happenings at the halls of the Palace of Culture and National Theater and Opera could almost make you believe so.

Soon Varsovians will have yet another occasion to revisit the interiors of Stalin's Wedding Cake, as the Dubrovka Theater from Moscow is bringing its infamous musical Nord-Ost - The Story of Love to Kongresowa Hall on June 27.

Nord-Ost is the first Russian musical production modeled after classical Broadway pieces and created with a little help from the British company Cameron Macintosh, producer of Les Miserables, The Phantom of the Opera, Cats and Miss Saigon.

But this is where the international influences end and the rich Russian culture sets in. The musical's theme is entirely based on the popular Russian novel Two Captains by Veniamin Kaverin, which spans some 30 years of the first half of the 20th century, placing the plot between the two world wars. The plot is complete with all the elements essential to create a weepy love story: dramatic love affair, heroism, betrayal, tenderness, dynamism and quick twists of action. Add vivid Russian music, intricately designed costumes for more than 380 characters and a realistic stage setting, including some vehicles of impressive size, and you are back in the Russia of three generations ago.

Recently Nord-Ost was brought to the world's attention because of a very tragic Chechen terrorist attack in Moscow, which took place in the Dubrovka Theater during a performance. The Warsaw spectacle will be the first of its kind in Poland, and is said to be the last one in the history of this musical.

Tickets, at zł. 80-300, are available from the Kongresowa

box office, Empik stores, ZASP box offices, www.ebilet.pl and www.bileteria.pl.