A special theater performance will take place organized by the Liszt Institute New York featuring the actors of the Csiky Gergely Theater presenting Magda, a Szabó taking place on June 15, 2025 at 5PM at the Hungarian House of New York.
About the theater piece
"Magda, a Szabó" is a one-act, innovative theatrical performance — a biographical evening that approaches and explores the life, work, and marriage of Magda Szabó, Kossuth Prize laureate and one of the most widely translated Hungarian authors — from a previously unexplored perspective. Portraying Szabó alongside her husband, fellow writer Tibor Szobotka, offers a more complete and nuanced image of this iconic literary figure. The play raises still-relevant, previously hidden questions, drawing on literary sources and documents to delve deeper into her life story.
But who was she, really? A writer, a woman, a wife, a passionate lover. She lived her life in exuberant happiness beside her husband, Tibor Szobotka, who also happened to be a writer. Who was this man of a turbulent fate — the man to whom Szabó continued to write letters and diaries even after his death? Who were they — this literary couple whose life revolved around writing, yet fame only seemed to chase one of them? Who were this strange Romeo and Juliet, who, despite their unconditional love, lived their lives without children? Was it fate’s decision — or was it truly their own choice? Could their life be considered complete, or was it complete precisely because it was lived “only” together, forever?
In this performance, we are introduced to a new side of Szabó Magda — one sparkling with wit and playfulness. Her legendary love for animals comes to life through her most cherished cats, Évuka and Konstantin. The actors, stepping in and out of roles and character, portray these pets with deadpan sincerity, sarcastic humor, and self-irony — based on the posthumously published letters Szabó wrote in their names. Through these feline alter egos, the inner world of the two writers becomes more intimate and emotionally charged, at times even revealing their most closely held secrets.
The play touches on many questions that resonate in all our lives: relationships, careers, the decision to have children, and the boundaries of life itself. And as we seek answers, two novel-worthy life paths unfold before us — a great meeting of minds and hearts. In the process, Magda Szabó becomes not just a revered author, but a familiar human being.
The performance premiered in September 2019 at the Petőfi Literary Museum and has since been presented in numerous cities and towns across Hungary — in theaters, cultural centers, and even churches.
Please note the that the performance will be conducted in Hungarian.
