Show not recommended for minors aged under 12

Gavril Pătru, an actor who shares a lineage with Marin Sorescu, not only through his birthplace but also through his artistic style and expressiveness, has taken on the roles of stage director and author for his play "Ghosts and Dandelions". This work is featured in a theater volume that earned him the "Marin Sorescu" Award for the Debut Book of the Year 2022, presented by the Bucharest Branch of the Writers' Union.

Inspired by the childhood and adolescence spent in a village in Oltenia, "Ghosts and Dandelions" presents an authentic portrayal of the region of Oltenia, showcasing, with humor and authenticity, its customs, superstitions, folk language, and local mythology. The work captures the magical realism of Oltenia—the "homeland of the right words," as Marin Sorescu referred to it to highlight the linguistic richness and creativity of its people.

Gavril Pătru crafts a both caustic and humorous family portrait, set against the backdrop of a funeral wake packed with surreal elements. This serves as the perfect environment for the superstitions of a village in Oltenia to reveal family secrets and personal dramas. The show is distinctly „Oltenian”: gothic, bizarre, sarcastic, and tangy, much like a glass of zaibăr, a typical wine from Oltenia. It presents a dark comedy featuring ghosts, thousand year-old maids, and the flavor of cabbage rolls. This farce unfolds at a devilish pace but also contains moments of rare dramatic sensitivity, inviting us to witness that inevitable moment in a family's life when, as the poet says, “all secrets come out, like oil.”

Translated by Anita Neagu

Photo Florin Ghioca