Где вы, месье Миуссов

Где вы, месье Миуссов ("Where are you, Monsieur Mioussov") is a Russian comedy in two acts by Valentin Katayev (1897-1986) [1].

The original text

Written in 1947, it is a play about Zaitsev, a worker doing repair work for a Moscow nursery, who goes to a rest home called Les Tournesols to meet a patient there, comrade Mioussov, so that he can sign a delivery receipt for 50 kilograms of white enamel paint. The comedy is based on a misunderstanding over obtaining the privilege of staying for twenty-four hours in this renowned health establishment, and the subterfuges Zaitsev goes to stay there.

Translations and adaptations

Translated into French as Je veux voir Mioussov by Tamara Dalmat in 1965, and filmed as a TV movie of the same name in 1980.[2]

Largely known in the French version, but has been translated into a number of other languages as well, e.g English (as I Want to See Mioussov), Persian and Afrikaans.

Translated into Afrikaans as Waar is Kameraad Mioussoff? by Mariechen Naude, and adapted for radio by Driaan Engelbrecht in 1991.

Performance history in South Africa

1991: Broadcast in Afrikaans as Waar is Kameraad Mioussoff? by the SABC on the programme Radioteater on 25 February and repeated on 3 March. The recording directed by Joey de Koker.