Crime and Punishment

F. M. Dostoyevsky's ''Crime and Punishment'' is an integral part of any deliberation on crime and its (un)justifiableness, on guilt and confession, punishment and repentance, responsibility and the consequences we are willing to suffer for what we have done. During that process it is hard to say where is Dostoyevsky at his best: in his sharp-witted, analytical dialogues that penetrate incredibly deep and to which he masterfully opposes the complex insights and views on human nature; in the introspective and often self-exhausting monologues; or in the superior sense of atmosphere and the whole of the story, where in the case of ''Crime and Punishment'' he surprisingly harmoniously ''sticks'' little philosophical essays, that the characters dwell in, to an almost crime plot...This novel had its fair share of stagings through different adaptations and dramatizations. This dramatization is the work of the director himself, Zlatko Sviben, who has gathered a respectable cast from all generations of ''Gavella'' Theatre around his ''dramatization script''. One of the greatest works of Russian and the world's literature is an exceptionally complex and challenging material for anyone who wishes to bring it to life on stage, but the eternal story of Rodion Romanovich Raskolnikov, a failed law student who decides to kill and rob an old pawnbroker Alyona Ivanovna even today, 150 years after it was written, shines with the same magical appeal.

''With his interpretation of Dostoyevskiy's novel 'Crime and Punishment' in Gavella Theatre, Zlatko Sviben has confirmed the status of the wise wizard of Croatian theatre. (...) Nothing is over the top in this play. The plot is classy and balanced, neither too fast, nor too slow. There's no initial hysteria and bloodless philosophizing or suffocating the audience with dire, never-ending utterances.'' (Denis Derk, Večernji list)

''In the leading role of Raskolnikov, Franjo Dijak movingly and nuancedly portrays a series of the main character's inner voices, uttering his thick monologues on the thin line between delirium and a hightened presence of mind with flawless focus and persuasive fever. By taking upon himself an extremely difficult task of accepting the complexity of Dostoyevskiy, Dijak performs with such dedication and relentlessness, literally giving his all for theatrical reality, that it is safe to say he gave a performance of his career.'' (Nataša Govedić, Novi list)

''The director ponders multidimensionally, dives into the metaphysical depths of the Russian classic, creates a dramatically gorgeous scenic image of an age, spurrs the ensemble on to give their best and blends modern aesthetic solutions into an exciting theatrical event. (...) Raskolnikov is impressively portrayed by Franjo Dijak, an actor who possesses an authentic histrionic energy and who merges in his role a psychologically coloured bad guy from Dostoyevskiy's time and a modern anti-hero who, like James Dean, lives fast, violently and dangerously. (...) ''Crime and Punishement'' will definitely be a repertorial success for Gavella Theatre...'' (Bojan Munjin, Novosti)