“The American” by Alexandros Papadiamantis
The performance “THE AMERICAN”
a dramatized narration by Thanasis Sarantos,
based on the name classic novel of Alexandros Papadiamantis,
comes back to Athens and is presented for a 3rd year now,
honoring the 100th death anniversary of the writer from Skiathos island.
“THE AMERICAN” of Alexandros Papadiamantis (1851 – 1911) – The performance in a few words
“He looked like an Englishman, like an American, rather not typical Englishman or typical American; the few words he said in Greek, were pronounced in a way difficult and thoughtful, not that alien to me, as if he knew how to speak Greek once and had no memory of it”
Ithikon Akmeotaton theatre company, honoring the 100th death anniversary of Alexandros Papadiamantis, this year presents afresh the play “THE AMERICAN”. This year’s round of performances has been initiated last December from the city of Lamia, continued in the cities of Patra and Kavala (Filippi – Thasos Festival 2011). In 2011 has been hosted with great success at Michael Cacoyannis Foundation. Following the greatly warm response to the recent anniversary event in Skiathos Island, organized by the Municipality of Skiathos & the Museum – House of Al. Papadiamantis, “The American” comes back to Athens victoriously and is presented afresh for a tour all around Greece as well as in Athens at Michael Cacoyannis Foundation.
A theatrical adaptation of the homonymous classic novel by Alexandros Papadiamandis that involves an actor and a musician reminds us the dimensions that human solitude can form as well as the “uncured” suspicion over against whatever unknown or the seemingly strange. The hero is “a stranger in his own world”. However he is neither a stranger nor an American.
He is a Greek migrant who following 25 years of absence returns back to his island but no one recognizes him. He wonders on his own alongside the port, the island’s alleys and faces his family house ruins. Only love is what he hopes for. “The American” could easily be the story of an immigrant, here, in Greece, today.
In the performance Thanasis Sarantos, as the narrator, performs a persona of Papadiamantis, looks curiously at the action and “shifts”into all the persons he narrates, with the contribution of the music and the sounds by the composer Lampros Pigounis.
A dialogue of Papadiamandis’ exceptional writing with live music. The universe of ambient sounds which are produced by a different use of piano suites with all the variety, the power and the richness of the classic novel’s incredible language.
Synopsis
Who is that stranger, the attractive and well dressed man who wanders around on Christmas Eve at the port’s pier? He looks like a stranger, he appears to be American. Why does he wander around during the night at the narrow streets of our little neighborhood? Why does he snoop around within the Stathis’ house ruins? Why is he standing and waiting in the middle of the street and why does he stare “persistently” and “for long” the almost shut window of Michaels wife? Above all, “why does he have his moustache and beard shaved”?
With the new, this season’s theatrical presentation of the short story “The American” by Alexandros Papadiamantis , following 3 successful rounds of performances during the previous theatre season- the company “ithikon akmeotaton” honors the 100 years since the death of Skiathos Island’s writer.
The company was founded in December of 1999 on occasion of the Albert Camus “Caligula” that was presented at National Theatre of North Greece and the Neos Kosmos Theatre. It has presented plays of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Caryl Churchill and more.
Performances for arranged school visits:
Dates: December 1st to January 31st 2012 from Monday to Friday
Time: 10:30am
Responsible coordinator for performances’ arrangement: Stamatia Antonatos
Tel.: 210 3418584 (mornings), 697 4926755
Tickets: €7 per student
