Ilija Zovko: FORGIVE ME, STEVE press clipping  

I DON’T KNOW HOW TO PLAY THE HERO
It would have never occurred to me that I would come across a text that asks  questions which I, as an actor, want to ask. And so I started, following my intuition and making notes of what I wanted to say on stage – and that is- to talk about the problems faced by the ordinary man, his happiness and sorrows, truths and sometimes lies. In short, I never played the hero, I wouldn’t know how to.
Jasmina Parić, Slobodna Dalmacija, 27. 02. 2002. Pre-premiere talk with I. Zovko

SMALL CELEBRATION FOR GOOD ACTING FOLLOWING RAOS’ POETICS
“Forgive me, Steve”, is the first drama written by actor Ilija Zovko, member of CNT Split’s Drama since 1992(…) The text is written as a monologue statement, in the manner of Raos’ tales, and represents a brilliant study of a sad and wasted life. Ilija Zovko stages his one-act in a retrospective way, and the acting is based on the association that flows from the memories fragmented by time.(…)
Slaven Relja, Jutarnji list, 03.03.2002

HUMAN COMMOTION
We’re talking about a text exceptionally rich in motives, whose discreet wit convincingly and articulately blends with the familiar life motif. Out of these, at first sight apparently, elementary happenings and manifestations, flow continuous electricity and sparkles of poetics that incite unusual echoes from the surprised audience. And at the same time show up, maliciously funny topics from our social and historical reality, and are added to our sins of today.  And, of course,  what is essential on this stage happens thanks to Ilija Zovko’s exceptional acting affinity.  He, namely, performs his own text the way it fits best, that is, he identifies with everything he wrote himself.  It’s acting that at the same time searches and corroborates, depending exclusively on him, born from circumstances no different than those from where the text was born.
Anatolij Kudrjavcev, Slobodna Dalmacija, 03.03.2002

PLEASANT SURPRISE
Forgive me, Steve is a good example of stage modesty and reduction which hits right into the essence of theatre and it is, undoubtedly, a show which will be performed a hundred times.  At the same time, it succeeds at maintaining theatrical dignity and refuses to use cheap tricks to please the audience.  Although, this non-pretentious work of acting hardly falls into Split’s CNT present repertory, there’s no doubt that it will enjoy a long theatrical future.
Jasen Boko, Vijenac, 21.03.2002

DRAMA INSIDE MEMORIES
Zovko’s dramatic text includes numerous flashbacks written in the manner of Raos’ prose, confessions of an accused man lost in his wasted past.(…)
Ilija Zovko impressively portrays all the inside troubles of his character, without exaggeration or pathetics in voice and gesture, making this story about loneliness and losses in life more believable.
Dubravka Vrgoč, Vjesnik, 05. 03. 2002.

LANGUAGE AS ESSENSE OF DRAMA

Ilija Zovko that night was an artist.  An artist of language. Twice!  As a writer and as an actor.  His colleague Milan Štrlijć directed this work in Scene 55.  And he did it the best he could have.  To the writer he gave the actor – to the actor he gave the writer!  To the audience he gave their unity!  Theatre!
Vlatko Perković, Hrvatsko slovo, 15. 03. 2002.