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A play by Dan Puric reopens the Great Hall of the National Theatre
The National Theatre of Bucharest “I. L Caragiale” is proud to announce the premiere of the play Pearls, thread yourselves, directed by Dan Puric after Victor Eftimiu’s dramatic poem-extravaganza, an event which will inaugurate the Great Hall and which celebrates the end of the ample reconstruction, rehabilitation and modernisation process of the National Theatre of Bucharest “I.L. Caragiale”.
A broad reach enactment, Pearls, thread yourselves entice us to discover an universe full of colour and poetry, under the new “hat” of the Great Hall: 80 performers, from debutant actors to renowned ones, 300 costumes and an impressive collection of hats, which were carefully woven in the theatre’s halls, original music by Gheorghe Zamfir, pantomime, step, dancing and ballet, all brought together in the bold concept of its director, which speaks to a large audience.
Victor Eftimius’s dramatic extravaganza was played for the first time on the stage of the National Theatre of Bucharest, in 1911. This play, considered by the critic Eugen Lovinescu a true masterpiece at the time, made the famous playwright famous at only 22 years old. In time, the text was modified and enacted in numerous versions around the country.
The concept you will be witnessing on the stage of the National Theatre of Bucharest represents a new challenge for the actor and director Dan Puric, who presented us with an original “interpretation” this time as well, by simply combining the classic text and the claptraps which established him as a renowned artist. His version of Perls, thread yourselves is a transfiguration of the extravaganza into a love poem.
„I don’t know how, but Eftimiu created a modern fairytale without making it modern”, Dan Puric tells us. “He kept its energy, its innocence and beauty. He played with it. That is what I enjoyed with such fervour. I was drawn to the ludic aspect Eftimiu imprinted into the story. In a confused society lacking a moral compass and in which we revel in disconcerting values, the fairytale makes things clearer and simpler. It cannot lie because it’s made for children. Nowadays, I find the need for fairytales vital, because as the world is getting uglier, the fairytales are a reflex of inward hygiene. This play is Romanian to the core and that is why it can be, at any time, international.”
With Pearls, thread yourselves, the playwright helps us discover the path to ourselves. It makes us dream… Live the story… Dan Puric’s „story” overwhelms us with its tragic grandness, but also with its gentleness – the trait that gets it closer to the essence of Romanian fairytale, to the fundamental truth of life.
The set and costumes were designed by Doina Levintza, whose concept lays stress on a luxurious universe, full of shapes and colours.
Main characters : Dan Puric, Constantin Dinulescu, Amalia Ciolan, Maria Dinulescu/Beatrice Rubică, Lari Giorgescu/Ștefan Ruxanda, Silviu Biriş/Gavril Pătru, Irina Cojar, Carmen Ionescu, Ovidiu Cuncea, Alexandru Hasnaş, Axel Moustache, Eduard Adam, Oana Vânătoru, Afrodita Androne, Iuliana Moise, Tatiana Constantin, Erika Băieşu, Violeta Huluba, Florin Roșu, Silviu Oltean.
The official premiere of the play will take place on Saturday, the 18th of April, 2015 and the first meetings with the audience on 19th, 21st, 29th and 30th of April, at 7 pm.
Translated by: Bianca-Lidia Zbarcea
MTTLC, University of Bucharest
