A STORMY NIGHT
National Theatre Bucharest - "Ion Caramitru" Hall
June 23, 2025 at 8:00 PM
A masterpiece of Caragiale's genius, „A Stormy Night” is the supreme effervescent, bittersweet, colorful, and flavorful X-ray of the Romanian spirit, in all its aspects, with its good and... less (un)good sides.
In the new directorial key proposed by VLAD ZAMFIRESCU, we rediscover Caragiale's characters for today's world, with the perfume and emotion of an old neighborhood, where the music of Jean Moscopol resonates, inviting us to penetrate, amidst the aromas of spices and steaming food, through scaffolding, repairs, and cats meowing their "stormy" woes.
In this picturesque space, where the outside tumult erupts into uncontrollable internal boiling, the kitchen becomes the much-tried heart of the intimate universe. Jupân Dumitrache, played by NICULAE URS, is like a (master)chef of the house and the table, preparing food with care and ambition, yet allowing the fiery Ipingescu, portrayed powerfully by MIRCEA RUSU, to test his culinary-political talents, up to "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 hints of style, decorum, and alleyway betrayal, led charmingly by the cunning and enchanting Chiriac, played by VLAD ZAMFIRESCU. Meanwhile, Spiridon (GABRIEL VATAVU/ȘTEFAN RADU) greets all encounters with St. Niculae with a (too wide) smile on his face.
In an absolutely surprising performance, MAIA MORGENSTERN is an explosive and delightfully insane Zița, while MARIUS MANOLE constructs a Rică Venturiano rich in anguish, threatening to shatter the honor of a family man, as he negotiates, both ridicule and sensitively, his role in the small homeland, but especially in the great homeland.
"The people sit at the table" in this staging where there is painting, plastering, building, eating, and debating, and where everything mixes, from ideas to feelings to ingredients and relationships, giving flavor to a „Stormy Night” like no other seen before.
A fast-paced and surprising show, with explosive comedy that makes you think, featuring an exceptional cast – it is „A Stormy Night” about national and personal values, about making light of troubles, about patriots and family men, chislers and journalists debating, but above all about love, in its more or less... traditional forms.
The spectacular scenography is signed 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
Scenography: IMELDA MANU-JIPA
Assistant director: MĂDĂLINA CIUPITU
