Comedy in three acts by Mihail Sebastian

Artistic director: Ion Deloreanu
Decor: Valeriu Moisescu
Costumes: Eliza Popescu
Premiere date: October 1, 1961

The plot of the play "Ultima ora" captures an episode that seems minor, but capable of overturning an entire established order in the interwar Bucharest society. The newspaper of public information, politics and scandal "Desțeptarea" one day publishes the article "Alexandru cel Mare în Media" by history professor Alexandru Andronic, in which informed persons recognize a veiled attack on the great industrialist Grigore Bucșan, with references to strictly secret and perhaps not the most honest affairs. Both the director of the newspaper and the industrialist visit Andronic, otherwise an anonymous figure in the social world, each pursuing a personal goal: the first to bring him closer as a collaborator, since he is, by no one knows by what means, the possessor of such valuable information; the second, to counteract the following attacks and revelations in the press, by offering the scholar a significant sum of money. Andronic refuses both; Bucșan devises various stratagems to sabotage the scholar, reaching the highest forums and ministries. The saving solution for all comes from Magda, a student fascinated by the personality of Alexander the Great and a little in love with her professor; she convinces Bucșan to provide the necessary funds for a three-year study trip to Asia, following in the footsteps of the great ancient ruler, for the scholar and for herself, as well as the creation of an Association for the Encouragement of Ancient History Studies, with Alexandru Andronic as president of the board of directors.

The flavor, charm and comic of the play consist in the fact that the entire situation is created and resolved without Professor Andronic having any real or conscious involvement. His article appears in "The Awakening" through a typographical error, which should have published it in the "Revista de istorie antică", and the proper names that allude to the industrialist's secret affairs are simple typographical errors, which transform Prophtasia into Protar and Kabul into Charun. Alexandru Andronic remains innocent and totally outside the conflict from beginning to end, a powerful symbol of spiritual wealth and the fascination of knowledge.

Distribution:

Professor Andronicus:  Eugen Tugulea
Grigore Bucsan:  Ricardo Colbert
IDBorcea:  Misu Vladimir
Stefanescu:  Valentin Avrigeanu
Voice:  Jean Sandulescu
Pompilian:  George V. George
Branescu:  John the Baptist
Agopian:  Constantin Simionescu
Hubert:  Nicolae Toma, Ion Abrudan
Thread:  Valeriu Grama
A boy with coffee:  Radu Reisel 
Magda Minu:  Oana Diamandi
Gabi:  Geta Iancu
Anna:  Lili Mihailescu
Miss Werner:  Doina Urlățeanu

Technical director: Dalma Simionescu
Prompter: Sofica Spoiala