Directed by Maritina Passari
Christmas Eve. Agallos, a “moonstruck” family man, who has spent eight years of his youth between two fiancées, sets off to return home, where his wife and their two children are expecting him. He is late. What can possibly happen during this magic, holy night, when time appears to stand still?
Faithful to the writer’s spirit, yet adapting an adventurous form, the show is an encounter between the not so distant past of Papadiamantis, and the sensibility of a young, theatrical group of our own present. A group formed up by students of the National Theatre Drama School, which, through a collectivity of improvisations bring forth fresh, magic, funny and dramatic moments of the story.
Director’s Notes:
“I had worked with these actors through an entire year, at the school, moving from improvisations to a selection of texts from Shakespeare’s Hamlet. During the summer, after the end of the school exams, we worked in a similar manner on the “Moonstruck”. Through team work and improvisations, we tried to keep, and transfer on stage, the dynamics of the rehearsal process. The freedom, the concentration, the moments when we overcome our abilities and reveal unpredictable sides both of the text, and ourselves …”
The play was presented, and received really well, for a mere 2 times in July 2011, at the Apentomotirio stage at Kavala, as a commissioned production by the Filippoi Thasos Festival, which was devoted to Alexandros Papadiamantis. We wish to thank the chairman of the festival, Thodoris Gkonis, for his assistance, the support and the friendship. We also wish to thank the National Theatre Drama School, which assisted us with the first presentation of the play at Kavala, and also with the new one in Athens.. The students, the staff, and the head of studies, Victor Ardittis.
The reaction of the press of the City of Kavala to the play:
“I EVDOMI” – 22 July 2011
A “moonstruck” company brought forth today Papadiamanti’s unique language.
Those who attended the play, could not but agree that it was a production, which, by keeping true to the narrative plot, and the language of the text, managed to pass on to the audience the similarities of two very different eras, through a very intimate approach.
Impressive images, such as the snow which swiveled around the “frozen” momentarily actors, or touches with a clear reference to the current events and news, which appeared to be fully tuned with the rest of the play, messages that reminded us of recent protests and demonstrations (“Thus is life, a war it is”), risked and came out winning, not only due to the developing artistic nature of the participant, but also due to the initiative for such an effort.
“Eleftheria Logou” – 22 July 2011
“Moonstruck”… under the light of talent and improvisation.
What really happened at the very special Apentomotirio stage, which opened its gates to harbor the unique devised performances of the student-actors of the National Theatre Drama School, was the result of a blend between pure talent, inner search and conversation with the supernatural, the non existing and the imaginary world of deep thinking, art, the concepts and the expressions, through a text that featured all the structural points of an ‘ancient tragedy’, leading to catharsis.
The two shows managed to convince all those who attended the play through the dynamic and not unprofessional, on the contrary, clearly professional display of the students on a very special text written by Alexandros Papadiamantis, which literally brought to light the shadows and deep inner thoughts of the supernatural conscience, through the constant involvement of the instinct, the thoughts, and thought processing functions.
Translation of communication matter: Alexandros Frangos
