THE BLACKSMITHS

ANNIVERSARY SHOW HORATIU MALAELE

National Theatre Bucharest - "Ion Caramitru" Hall

July 29, 2024, at 8:00 PM

Under various titles, the play "The Blacksmiths" by Milos Nikolic has been featured in the repertoire of several theaters in the country, as well as abroad. The director of the show, Horațiu Mălăele, appears to be "in love" with this play in which, of course, he also plays the main role. 

The original text by playwright Milos Nikolic, born in Kosovo in 1939, tells the story of a German blacksmith who, after a long time, discovers that his son is the child of a Romanian. Horațiu Mălăele adapts the subject and the blacksmith Grigorie is a Romanian who discovers that his son is the child of the Hungarian Peter, who in turn discovers that his son is actually the child of the Russian Ivan, and Ivan realizes that his son also belongs to... Grigorie! This genetic mix-up is a consequence of the war because all the men, blacksmiths by trade, were also soldiers on the front. The underlying theme of the play is generous with suggestions about the consequences of war and the false trumpet call of nationalism that has become a "doctrine" for some current European parties. The comedy, skillfully written by Milos Nikolic, provokes laughter from the misfortunes of the three men of different nationalities who realize that their sons actually have a different nationality genetically. 

The adaptation, by changing the nationalities of some characters, is however, flawed. The wives are represented in the text only by Matilda, the wife of Grigorie, who argues that the women did not cheat on their husbands, they only wanted the blacksmiths' guild to have heirs. The playwright conceives Matilda's argument on the historical substrate that after farmers and shepherds, blacksmiths hold one of the oldest professions attested even in the Bible. These remain the basic professions of simple people. However, in today's world, Matilda's desire for the guild's perpetuation fails because the sons, say their fathers, are no longer blacksmiths and have chosen other professions. Horațiu Mălăele's adaptation uses the translation signed by Veronica Lăzăreanu, which is abundant in trivial accents.

         Set designer Maria Miu, who has illustrated this play at another theater, constructs on stage a detailed blacksmith's workshop with objects specific to the trade, complemented by those from the households of simple people. The decor is delightful and thoughtfully functional for diversifying stage movement. Director Horațiu Mălăele humorously develops the story of the three men, excelling in the comedy genre. The show lasts one hour and ten minutes, of which five minutes are spent in the beginning with Grigorie searching through the blacksmith's shop with a flashlight, in the dark, for "something"; these absurd searches, however, do not find a consolidated purpose in the ensuing action.

 The four actors remarkably fulfill the roles assigned to them. Maia Morgenstern as Matilda, Grigorie's wife, delivers an excellent performance. The actress showcases Matilda's internal struggle to convince her husband that she did not cheat on him during the four years he was on the front in Russia, combined with the emotion of reuniting with Peter. Once again, Maia Morgenstern demonstrates that she is a rarely complex actress, able to credibly approach both the comic and the dramatic genre. 

Horațiu Mălăele subtly constructs the character Grigorie, a simple man trying to unravel the complications brought on by Peter's arrival in his family. The actor treats the situation dramatically and, evidently, the result is comic. With a timid Hungarian accent in speech, George Mihăiță presents Peter experiencing the intense emotion of reuniting with Matilda, as well as the complicated situation of revelations. The final intervention of Ivan is admirably performed by Valentin Teodosiu, through demeanor and the support of relationships with those he encounters. The four actors meritoriously convey the story of the diligent blacksmiths, simple people whom the war has left... traces, like many other simple people, living today in a world confused in manifestations.

         "The Blacksmiths" offers an opportunity for comedy to the audience, who should then reflect when they proudly claim their origins from... Dacians and Romans. The show remains just a successful exercise in amusement…