Play in two parts by Mircea Bradu
Absolute premiere

Artistic direction: Alexandru Colpacci
Scenography: T.Th.Ciupe
Musical illustration: Cornel Pop
Premiere date: April 17, 1977

„"Whom shall we rely on? The Romanian people. Ourselves." is one of the key phrases of the play "The Decision", dedicated to the Centennial of Romania's state independence. Approaching the formula of documentary political theater, the play makes a trial of the Cold War of European diplomacy that confronted their interests without taking into account the Romanian people's aspiration for freedom. The successive moments of obtaining independence are captured, from the attempt to obtain through diplomatic means a favorable position from the great powers of the time towards Romania's intention to emancipate itself from the tutelage of the Ottoman Porte, to the victorious fight against it. Among the documentary scenes such as the diplomats' ball in Vienna or the disputes of politicians in the Bucharest Parliament, the playwright Mircea Bradu inserts several fictional biographies, but also real figures, who played essential roles in the unfolding of the events of 1877: Mihail Kogălniceanu, Ion Bălăceanu, Chancellor Andrassy. The culmination of this intensely burning play is the moment of historical decision, materialized by Romania's entry into the war. As Radu Enescu notes in issue 4 of the magazine "Familia" from April 1977, "the merit of the play lies in being captured in history, not its museum and documentary aspect, but its living essence, its relevance for contemporary times."”

Distribution:

Alexander:  Nicolae Barosan
Mary:  Eugenia Papaiani
Russell:  Mircea Constantinescu
Anna:  Simona Constantinescu
John Balaceanu:  Eugen Tugulea
M. Kogălniceanu:  Ion Tomorrow
Hans and Peter:  Radu Vaida
Blowitz:  Jean Sandulescu
The Austrian attaché and Tache:  Grig Schiţcu
The German attaché and Popescu:  Valentin Avrigeanu
The French attaché and Brătianu:  Marcel Popa
The English attaché and Ion Ghica:  Corneliu Gheba
Murad:  Nicholas Thomas
Ignatiev:  Marcel Segărceanu
Nehoda and Stuart:  Ion Abrudan
Rosetti:  Laurian Jivan
Andrassy:  Dorel Urlățeanu emeritus artist
Paul:  John Martin
Soldier I:  Dimitrios Stefanidis
Soldier II:  Marin Monoc
In other roles:  Gheorghe Cîmpeanu, Gheorghea Meglea, Tiberiu Gall, Petru Opriş, Iosif Silaghi

Technical director: Elena Varlam
Prompter: Florence Manea
Lighting: Vasile Blejan
Sound: Dorel Olea