"How can I not rejoice like a child when I see the same actors who have delighted me since the premiere in 2013 being as excited and enthusiastic as 11 years ago? Rodica Popescu-Bitanescu overflows with her well-known energy and creates a charming Mother-in-law, a glamorous Eleonora, a great mother-in-law, contouring this very sympathetic character with much humor, irony and self-irony. Ilinca Goia is still as fresh, vivacious today, offering the joy of meeting a complex character, juggling the voices and moods of this ever devoted wife smoothly, despite all appearances. Liviu Lucaci is still one of my favorite actors in the National Theatre in Bucharest, as he knows how to marvelously combine the cerebral and emotional aspects of his acting character. Emphatically but also with great humor, we discover a husband who alternates between dominating and being dominated by his wife and mother-in-law, even the family friend. And coming to the latter, I must mention the outstanding part that Marius Rizea plays. Cornel, the doctor in law whom miss Eleonora amusingly and uselessly consults in health matters, is excellently portrayed by this very versatile comic actor, emphasizing all the qualities and flaws of the character eternally in love with his wife Viorica, but always in the shadow of the "little hell" of marriage and guiding both spouses in such a way as to save their love and marriage.

Daniel Badale, one of the most gifted actors of the national theater in Bucharest and whom I would like to see in many more performances, gives a wonderful stage representation of the Mielu' orderly sargeant. Thanks to his lightness in the comic register, the actor manages to bring out an otherwise secondary character, putting him in the position of the main actor in the family home. The two episodic characters, representing the husband and wife's temptations, are rendered with attention to detail, with refinement interwoven with comic language and gesture by two very dedicated actors. Dragos Stemate is charming, amusing and sympathetic as Kiki Mavropol, embodying the usual inter-war courtier-officer type. At the same time and roughly in the same register is Fulvia Folosea as his secretary, miss Didina. Full-natured, graceful, elegant and seductive, the actress delights with her stage presence and the refined way in which she delivers her lines with clarity and conviction".

Tudor Sicomaș, Republika Kritica - Nostalgia and inter-war elegance in an anthology performance "Little Hell" at the I.L. Caragiale National Theater after 11 years  

TRanslated by Andreea Codrea-Boeriu

" ... a sincere, honest, viable show.(...) The youngerones (consumers especially of new, even eccentric shapes and stylistics) will be able to discover a possible success formula on Romanian scenes. It would be translated like this: a pertinent cast with popular actors, a discreet staging, efficient and a text in whose truth anyone can find himself or herself, sooner or later. "

Razvana Nita, Port.ro - Family – the safest Paradise    

"The cast folds itself ontothe directorial concept and serves it remarkably. Because both key and secondary roles are performed beyond reproach. (...) Ileana Stana Ionescu ... The actress has magical means of expression applied to the character, whoappears as a seemingly innocent old lady, but who spies every manifestation in the family and comments it by nuancing the comic sense of the retort. He is avoiding any revelatory exaggeration to bring the character to the forefront and continuously supports the relationship with its partners, thus achieving a great role. (...) "Little Hell" shall once again win the bet with the Grand Audience, offering a long-lasting comedy show because it also benefits from an elite cast whose talent the director has speculated for a quality comedy. "

Ileana Lucaciu, Spectator - "Little Hell" - Promises a … long-lasting comedy  

"Little Hell is a play about marriage. Despite the title, it's pro marriage, whose difficulties are not ignored, but the author thinks they can be overcome with tact and humour. The scenes in which each of the spouses (Ilinca Goia and Liviu Lucaci) alienates the partner’s lovers, tricking them, are anthological: alert and casual, they induce an optimism that is hard to live, otherwise, in the present age: everything is possible, if people love each other... (...). In her role as a mother-in-law, Ileana Stana Ionescu, who, 40 years ago, in Sica Alexandrescu’s enactment, played the wife’s role, is delicious. She also humanizes the "institution" of the mother-in-law ... "

Iaromira Popovici, The Old Dilemma No. 505 - The Theatre of Pleasure   

"The Painting Hall has received the "baptism of fire", with a premiere which shall certainly have great success to the audience: "Little Hell" by Mircea Stefanescu, directed by Mircea Cornisteanu. (...) As expected, the highlight of the show is Ileana Stana Ionescu, absolutely magistral in the role of the mother-in-law. I have always admired the unusual naturalness in the embodiment of her characters and she did not disappoint me this time either. "

Gabriela Hurezean, Museums and Arms - NTB: "Little Hell" with the great Ileana Stana Ionescu    

"The story is classic and the performers create the perfect environment to discover it. The decor changes over the three acts. We can see the luxury car, projected on the background that changes with the passage of years (meaning the social status of that time), good quality furniture, exquisite meals, clothes and music. We are the guests of the Arbore family, consisting of the mother-in-law - exceptional and distinguished, Ileana Stana Ionescu, the wonderful and fresh wife Ilinca Goia, the fabulous husband Liviu Lucaci, along with the faithful friend of a lifetime, Marius Rizea and their humble servant, Mielu - Daniel Badale. We will discover their beautiful life, the love story that keeps them united for so long, but also the secrets they hide."

Georgiana Ene, The Metropolis Newspaper - Little Hell, Descent into Conjugal Hell   

"The show – certainly vivid, entertaining, spiritually created by Mircea Cornisteanu (set designer: Clara Labancz) - is remarkable through the picturesque and the atmosphere (a comic permeable to emotion), through modern - ironic fructification (according to the stylizations of the text) and conquers through rhythm, pace, scenic effects. As usually inspired, Cornisteanu has carefully selected and welded an excellent team, which gives energetic relief to the situations and the ideal glow of "badinage".

We find here Ilinca Goia and Liviu Lucaci, in a shape that shows personality, charm, disinclination, exuberance and fun. We appreciate the typologies and convincing performance proposed by Marius Rizea (Doctor), Dragoş Stemate (Courtesan), Daniel Badale (Officer's Servant) and Fulvia Folosea (Secretary).

Ileana Stana Ionescu and Rodica Popescu-Bitanescu offer, each in her own way, an unforgettable acting feast."

Natalia Stancu, Jewish Reality – Old Plays, but Unwrinkled  

Translated by Simona Nichiteanu

Presented within the Theatre Festival of Caracal, May 2016

Translated by Simona Nichiteanu