Under various titles, the play “The Blacksmiths” by Milos Nikolic has been part of the repertoire in several theaters across the country and abroad. The director of the show, Horațiu Mălăele seems to be "in love" with this play in which he also naturally plays the lead 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 story, and the blacksmith Grigorie is a Romanian who discovers his son is the child of Hungarian Peter, who finds out his son is actually fathered by the Russian Ivan, and Ivan realizes that his son belongs to... Grigorie! This genetic mix-up is a consequence of the war because all the men, professional blacksmiths, were also soldiers at the front. The play's underlying theme offers generous suggestions regarding the consequences of war and the false trumpet of nationalism which has become a "doctrine" for some current European parties. The comedy is proficiently written by Milos Nikolic and produces laughter from the audience at the misfortune of the three men of different nationalities who find out their sons actually have different nationalities.
The adaptation which changes the characters' nationalities is, however, questionable. The wives are only represented in the text by Matilda, the wife of Romanian Grigorie, who argues that the women did not betray their husbands, they only wanted the blacksmiths' guild to have heirs. Matilda's argument is conceived by the playwright on the historical basis that after farmers and shepherds, blacksmiths hold one of the oldest professions referenced even in the Bible. These remain the base professions of simple people. However, in today's world, Matilda's desire to perpetuate the guild fails because the sons, as their fathers say, are no longer blacksmiths; they have chosen other professions. Horațiu Mălăele's adaptation uses the translation by Veronica Lăzăreanu, rich in trivial accents.
Scenographer Maria Miu, who has illustrated this play at another theater as well, constructs a detailed blacksmith's workshop on stage with specific items of the trade, complemented by those from the household of simple people, with her recognized skill. The scenery is delightful and functionally designed to diversify the stage movements. Director Horațiu Mălăele humorously develops the story of the three men, mastering the field of comedy. The show lasts an hour and ten minutes, with the first five minutes spent on Grigorie's searches with a flashlight in the dark for "something" in the workshop, though these absurd searches do not find a consolidated purpose in the action that follows.
The four actors remarkably fulfill the roles given to them. Maia Morgenstern as Matilda, Grigorie's wife, delivers an excellent performance. The actress faithfully develops Matilda’s inner struggle to clarify to her husband that she did not cheat during the four years he was at the front in Russia, also completed with the emotion of reuniting with Peter. Once again, Maia Morgenstern shows she is an actress of rare complexity, capable of credibly approaching both comedic and dramatic genres.
Horațiu Mălăele nuancedly constructs the character Grigorie, a simple man trying to untangle the entanglements caused by Peter's entry into his family. The actor treats the situation dramatically, and the result, naturally, is comic. With a timid Hungarian accent, George Mihăiță presents Peter as he intensely experiences the emotion of reuniting with Matilda, as well as the complicated situation of the revelations. Ivan's final intervention is admirably executed by Valentin Teodosiu through posture and keeping relationships with the met individuals. The four actors admirably narrate the story of the skilled blacksmiths, simple people whom the war left... traces, like many other simple people living today in another world, confused in manifestations.
"The Blacksmiths" provides a comedic opportunity for the audience, which should reflect upon it when boasting about having their genesis in... Dacians and Romans. The show remains just a successful exercise in amusement...
