Chronicle by Jasmina Mitrici
Those who forget their past run the risk of repeating it. But even if we let the past control our present, the future could turn into a dystopian scenario. From the desperation to find a place in the world, a couple of civil partners get to establish their own state within the state, a republic, more precisely. On its flag there is a coat of arms that unites Turkish and Hellenic culture: the baklava. Since its foundation, the new state – based on contemporary principles, freedom of expression, love, the absence of prejudices and bigotry – shows signs that it will not last long. Because, although baklava unifies, sweetens, breaks stereotypes and soothes (who would have thought?), you cannot eat it daily. “It's too sweet!” the audience whispers.
Humanity is not ready for such a utopia. Slowly, the dream of the two becomes a threat to the rest of the world, so it must be broken. Tragic and hopeless in some places, the story unfolds like a dough blanket, spreads on the stage populated by four actors surrounded by only a few elements of decor, which is splashed with a lot of flour, sprinkled with humour, with socio-political themes and given to the oven of emotional intelligence to leaven and ripen in the minds of the spectators. Maybe some sweeter ideas arise, who knows. It is hard to choose your favourite, you can hardly help laughing out loud and shedding a few tears because your empathy gets activated.
The four performers sing, attack through the well-crafted text and engage in playful and satirical dances with a lightness that surprises, tirelessly displaying their diverse stage skills. All the elements of the show are perfectly combined by bold, playful direction that leaves no room for any weak link.
We only have to take a bow. Chapeau!
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“Theatre Chronicle @ Eurothalia” is a programme conceived by Daniela Șilindean together with the team of the German State Theatre Timișoara, within the Eurothalia 2023 European Theatre Festival, held between 20-30 September 2023, financed by the National Cultural Program Timișoara - European Capital of Culture in 2023.
