“The editing style could be characterized by refinement and elegance: precisely studied correctness, without stridency (deliberately innovative or of dubious taste), insinuating and disturbing sound accompaniments. The current staging lets you think not only about the political implications of the play, but also about the ageless tragedy of the relationship between parents and children. The whole show is emotional and coherent, and the tumultuous ending justifies the ambitions of a creative personality.”

Mădălina Dumitrache, Bel-Esprit – Chamber Symphony - “Fathers and Sons”  

“Fathers and Sons is a captivating, lavish show, a cultural event, suitable for any educational category of audience. Spectators may be also be amused, as they would be at a comedy, but most of them will remain with the intention of rethinking the current approach, which can dramatically affect their existence by promoting motivation for a war as a pretext for an absurd ideology, but with a sense of dominating the world.”

Ileana Lucaciu, Spectator - Fully deserved applause!  

“Friel's adaptation put an English filter, more abstract and ironic, on the Chekhovian atmosphere of relationships, and Massaci's inventive staging put a second surreal filter on all this, trying to push the boundaries of Turgenev's realism and the "Chekhovian" play as far away as possible.”

Alexandra Ares, Liternet - Nihilism versus traditionalism - Fathers and Sons  

“Spectacular, with a very good rhythm from the beginning, spoken in a contemporary Romanian language that sounds and flows well (translated by Vlad Massaci, after the English text of Friel), this new performance of T.N.B. will fill, and I have no doubt about that, the halls of the theatre.” 

Liviu Ornea, Liternet - Spectacular and unequable - Fathers and Sons  

“Vlad Massaci creates a puzzle of great history from insignificant personal histories, balances the tragedy with bitter ironies, marching on the idea of a permanent possible return in time.”

Alina Maer, Scene și cuvinte – Fathers and Sons or the possible return  

“A difficult, well-played performance that finds a special place in the repertoire of this theatrical season, offering to the TNB spectators rear-view mirrors, warnings, mind-boggling suggestions about nihilism, traditionalism, Bolshevism and the new imperialism.”

Dinu Grigorescu, Rinocerii – Fathers and Sons by Brian Friel, after Turgenev, at TNB  

"The monumental performance inspired by the famous novel Fathers and Sons by I.S. Turgenev at NTB opens with the panorama of an abandoned orchestra with its instruments waiting, which the main stage of the National Theatre inspired set designer Adrian Damian with the feeling of a grandiose human space in restructuring."

Doina Papp, Revista 22 – Fathers and Sons, ideological or generational ruptures   

"A perfect evening where a piece of this length can seem like a scare. The feeling is exactly the opposite, you long for more. Or as the Romanian says: it's worth every penny."

Dana Cristescu, PressHub - Theatre: "Fathers and Sons" by Brian Friel, or if Turghenyev was Irish  

"Brian Friel's Fathers and Sons, based on the novel by Turgenev, directed by Vlad Massaci, has the audacity not to be seriously-rigid and reverentially-pathetic. Adapting a classic title for the stage often falls down a predictable slope towards a melodramatic and dignified but sterile tribute. The directorial proposal at the Ion Caramitru Hall, however, has a freshness and vigor that keeps it far from the clichés with samovars and lazy meals, with salon philosophies. The tragicomic key, on which the whole structure relies, works in counterpoint to the message full of danger contained in this decrepit sunset, of a world broken down to make way for a much more cynical one."

Alina Epîngeac, Revista Timpul - Fathers and Sons - past and... past  

"This performance really is contemporary. Too contemporary. It is, through everything from the text to the set and from the music to the lights, a mirror of our world, the world beyond the theatre doors... It is universal and, at the same time, personal. It's beautiful, in the gentleness with which it tells painful truths. It's impressive in the depth of the characters, whose inner selves are reflected in every detail of the set design. It's necessary in its message. I know this necessary performance thing has become something of a cliché, but yes, it really is. It's healing, in a way, in the way it talks about love... It's hope-giving."

Mădălina Mihai, Cultural 21 - About (de)humanization, with love. Or... "Fathers and Sons"  

"An admirable performance by Vlad Massaci. (...) the performance, benefiting also from an extremely interesting set design by Adrian Damian, and admirable costumes (Luiza Enescu), is one to remember. The naturalness of the acting, in which Richard Bovnoczki, Alexandru Potocean, Andrei Huțuleac, Vitalie Bichir, Crina Semciuc, Mihai Călin excelled, as well as the others cast in the roles in the play, Diana Dumbravă, Cosmina Olariu, Emilia Popescu, Măriuca-Serena Bosnea, Fulvia Folosea, Emilian Mârnea and Mihai Verbițchi, contributed to the success of the performance".

Nicolae Prelipceanu, Viaţa Românească - The Autumn of Theatres – Fathers and Sons  

Translated by Andreea Codrea-Boeriu