M & M or The Birch Twigs

A musical comedy in two acts

Director: Ingomar Vihmar
Author: W. O. von Horn / Lydia Koidula / Ingomar Vihmar
Set design and musical direction: Ingomar Vihmar
Lyricist, music arranger and vocal coach: Feliks Kütt
Lighting designer: Karmen Tellisaar

Cast: Kleer Maibaum, Karin Tammaru, Tambet Seling, Nils Mattias Steinberg, Astra Irene Susi, Paul Samuel Vihmar (guest performer)

Lydia Koidula’s second play, “Maret and Miina or The Birch Twigs,” was completed in 1870, soon after the premiere of “The Cousin from Saaremaa.” Koidula based the play on the story “The Neighbours’ Daughters,” published in Jannsen’s “Sannumetojas,” which was itself a translation of the German pastor W. O. von Horn’s story “Die Nachbarstöchter.” Koidula adapted the work to Estonian conditions and added sharp criticism of contemporary life. Director Ingomar Vihmar takes this a step further, exploring how this timeless story might speak to theatre audiences today.