A STORMY NIGHT
House of Culture of Trade Unions Ploiesti
October 15, 2026 7:00 PM
A masterpiece of Caragiale's genius, "A Stormy Night" is the ultimate frothy, bittersweet, colorful, and flavorful radiography of the Romanian spirit, in all its aspects, with the good and... the (not so) good.
In the new directorial approach proposed by VLAD ZAMFIRESCU, we rediscover Caragiale's characters for today's world, with the charm and emotion of a bygone neighborhood, where the music of Jean Moscopol resonates, and which invites us to enter, amidst the aromas of spices and steaming food, among scaffolding, repairs, and cats purring their "stormy" longing.
In this picturesque space, where the outside turmoil turns into an untamed inner boiling, the kitchen becomes the much-tested heart of the intimate universe. Jupân Dumitrache, played by NICULAE URS, is like the (master)chef of the house and the table, the one who carefully and ambitiously prepares the food, yet still allowing the fiery Ipingescu, in the powerful interpretation of MIRCEA RUSU, to try his culinary-political talents, to the point of "eating the holy Constitution".
In the scenic proposal of the formidable CARMEN TĂNASE, Veta is the keeper of cleanliness and order, in this story with a flavor of fashion, neatness, and neighborhood betrayal, which the cunning and charming Chiriac, played by VLAD ZAMFIRESCU, leads with great charm. This is while Spiridon (GABRIEL VATAVU/ȘTEFAN RADU) receives with a (too wide) smile all encounters with St. Nicholas, taken down from the hook one or two at a time.
In an absolutely surprising score, MAIA MORGENSTERN is an explosive and madly delicious Zița, while MARIUS MANOLE builds a Rică Venturiano rich in anguish, who threatens to shatter the honor of a family man, while ridiculously and sensitively negotiating his role in the small homeland, but especially in the big homeland.
"The people sit at the table" in this staging where painting, plastering, building, eating, and fighting take place, and where everything is mixed, from ideas to feelings, to ingredients and relationships, giving flavor to a "Stormy Night" like never seen before.
A fast-paced and surprising show, of explosive comedy, which makes you think, with an exceptional cast – it is "A Stormy Night" about national and personal values, about making light of misfortune, about patriots and family men, boyars and journalists who fight, but especially about love, in its more or less... traditional forms.
The spectacular set design is by Imelda Manu-Jipa, the character costumes belong to Maria Ștefănescu, and Mădălina Ciupitu is the assistant director.
Cast:
MAIA MORGENSTERN – Zița
MARIUS MANOLE – Rică Venturiano
CARMEN TĂNASE – Veta
VLAD ZAMFIRESCU – Chiriac
MIRCEA RUSU – Nae Ipingescu
NICULAE URS – Jupân Dumitrache Titircă
GABRIEL VATAVU – Spiridon
Directed by: VLAD ZAMFIRESCU
Set design: IMELDA MANU-JIPA
Assistant director: MĂDĂLINA CIUPITU
Here's the translation, preserving all HTML tags and attributes: Show presented by Prestige Art Production, a company dedicated to promoting quality art.
