A Story of the Forest: Mavka

Plot Summary

Mavka, a water nymph, loves Lukash, a country youth. Their brief happiness ends when Lukash is forced to marry the shrewish Kilina. The Spirit of the Forest turns Lukash into a wolf as punishment for his infidelity. The strength of Mavka's love breaks the spell, but Kilina curses the nymph, transforming her into a weeping willow. This beautiful and tragic story is based on a play written in 1912 by Lesya Ukrainka, a Ukrainian poet, writer and political, civil and female activist, and includes mythological characters taken from Ukrainian folklore.

Top Cast

Lyudmila Efimenko Mavka

Viktor Kremlev Lukash

Maya Bulgakova Lukash’s Mother

Ivan Mykolaichuk Uncle Leo / Wood Goblin

Boris Khmelnitsky Red (forest) Demon