Geo Milev

At the beginning of February, it will be 26 years since the death of Stela Nacheva

– an actress in the amateur theater at the “Otets Paisiy-1893” Community Center, a creative personality with enormous talent, who sang in the City Choir, played the accordion, and it is an honor for us that she wrote several articles for the newspaper. Her article from 1995 tells an interesting story about the poet Geo Milev. We are republishing it to honor the 130th anniversary of Geo Milev’s birth and his family connections to Velingrad.

Stela Nacheva wrote the texts for the sketches she performed on stage herself. By modern standards, these “self-produced” texts make her a stand-up star. You can laugh again at the sketch “At the Health Circle,” in which both roles were performed by Stela Nacheva and Hristo Semerdzhiev.

During the jubilee celebrations for the 90th anniversary of the theater troupe in Ladzene, we received congratulations addressed both to the entire troupe and to individual members. We were congratulated by our admirers and friends, lovers of theatrical art. Among them was Petka Mileva Kasabova – the sister of Geo Milev. She wished all members of our amateur theater health and new successes! “90 years of theater! That’s a big thing! Write, everyone write, so it will be remembered!” Here is what Penka Kasabova wrote in her letter: “In 1924, the actor Kapanov from Sofia directed the play “Danton” (probably referring to Molière’s “George Dandin” – editor’s note) in Ladzene. At the same time, Geo Milev was on vacation here with his entire family – his wife and two young daughters, Leda and Bistra. Geo Milev knew Kapanov, and he asked him to help with directing the play. Very diligently, every day around 6 p.m., Geo Milev went and worked with the actors from Ladzene throughout his 20-day vacation. The Community Center invited Geo Milev to give a lecture, and he agreed. He spoke on the topic “Woman in Art.”

It was July 1924.”

Now, when the entire country is celebrating 100 years since the birth of Geo Milev, we, the members of the theater troupe, can be proud that such a brilliant personality as Geo Milev connected his name with our predecessors and worked together on our stage for the cultural uplift of our people. Does anyone remember the 29-year-old poet with the wild lock of hair falling over one eye? The brilliant poet, who was also an artist and director, an unparalleled aesthete and a loving person for his people. Stela Nacheva, 1995.

Geo Milev

At the Health Circle

– Good day, comrades. Our circle continues its work. Today’s health lecture is on the topic: “Cholera and how to prevent it.” Before that, I ask you to take attendance because many of the circle members have not been regular lately. Gela Veleva?
– Here.
– Kitsa Belchova?
– Present.
– Dafinka Georgieva?
– Here I am.
– But… it says here you are 25 years old?
– I am her mother-in-law. I came because of her. You can mark her as present. Anyway.
– But… that’s not right. The circle is for young women and mothers. Velichka Ivanova?
– Present.
– Again you?
– Yes, we are here for the daughter.
– But how can you replace them? They should attend the meetings.
– Come on, come on, recite your lesson, say what you need, I have no time to waste.
– Okay. Let’s begin. Cholera is an acute infectious disease. Its homeland is India. Often…
– Where are you from? Because I see you suspiciously, I want to know.
– I’m not from your village. I’m from Plovdiv. Cholera spreads to neighboring countries…

– From which part of Plovdiv?
– My name is Petrov.
– Ah… I don’t know them.
– Cholera spreads epidemically from India… – Are you married?
– No. With the development of communications… opportunities arose…
– Do you have children?
– Yes – two.

At the Health Circle – Very well. Well… a home without children is a home without sun. Why did you lie that you’re not married? That’s not good.
– Please, let me finish the lecture, then we can talk about other things. Especially during war, opportunities arise for its spread. In our country, there has been no cholera since 1916, therefore…
– What did you study to know so much to talk like this? – I’m a doctor.
– Ah… doctor, I see. How long did you study?
– Five years.
– That’s not much. I only studied first grade for three years…
– Please, comrade, don’t interrupt me, because the time for the lecture is running out. Cholera is caused by the cholera vibrio. It is a…
– Let me ask you. Since you are a doctor, can you tell me what’s wrong with me? Every day I go to the hospital and see all the doctors, but none of them diagnose me. First, I went to the ophthalmologist. My eyes are not right. I wanted her to examine me with the telescope and give me new glasses, with yellow straps. A neighbor told me that if I got a document from the eye department, I could get a disability pension. They gave me military drops, examined me, but nothing helped.
– Okay, okay… Cholera infection is treated by…
– Fine, but my head doesn’t obey either. I feel something illegal developing inside it. My daughter-in-law said yesterday: “Mom, you probably have a lack of brain cells.”
– Cholera is one of those infectious diseases where…
– The nerves are stressing me. A condition comes in my nervous system that makes me want to fight.
– Please, don’t speak or interrupt me anymore. For the disease to manifest, the cholera vibrios need to enter…
– Let me tell you about the throat doctor – no more. I went to him the most. My throat itched, probably from the eye, it’s connected.
– The incubation period is from a few hours to 4-5 days… – I was very sick for 5 days. The high fever even loosened my teeth.
– Typical signs are vomiting, dehydration, convulsions…
– Listen, son, do you have much more to tell? I should go feed the pig, then maybe come back.

Geo milev in Velingrad