Dominykas Vaitiekūnas' musical performance "Slabodkės Vyšnelė"

"Slabodkės Vyšnelė" is a warm and nostalgic musical play by actor and musician Dominykas Vaitiekūnas, featuring true stories from the lives of Dominykas and his family.

A family party at Uncle Antanas's garage, the Daktarai gang running wild in Kaunas, adventures in a Soviet women's prison, a rug on the wall, and the early 90s business ventures that relatives engaged in as soon as Lithuania regained its independence. These are just a few details that adorn the narrative, making the audience smile and laugh, and later shed a tear upon realizing that behind the fun details of life lie fates that were not always easy.

The play was born after a 27-year hiatus, following a visit to his aunt Genutė, whose home in Vilijampolė used to seem like a fairytale land or the most distant and luxurious foreign country to Dominykas. The "Vyšnelė" shop opened by his aunt in Vilijampolė in 1994 was like a gateway to the Western world: imported sweets and boxes of his favorite "LOVE IS" chewing gum served as proof of a luxurious life.

An accidental friend request from Genutė on Facebook prompts Dominykas to go on a date with his aunt and, while browsing through his memories, try to find answers to questions that were discussed behind closed doors in the family.

The work was created in collaboration with the Kaunas 2022 festival.