Actor

Date and place of birth: 10.07.1938, Galati

Studies: Institute of Theatrical and Cinematographic Art "ILCaragiale" Bucharest, 1962

A graduate of IATC, his theater teachers were Irina Răchiţeanu, Radu Beligan and Ion Olteanu. Classmate with Arşinel. He played for a while on the stages of theaters in Turda, Cluj-Napoca, Baia-Mare, but most of his artistic life took place in Oradea, where he left us forever. We say this with great regret, because he was one of the most talented actors of all time in the troupe. "I like actors - he said - who have a solid intellectual structure, who collaborate with directors, actors with a razor-sharp mind. In whom, in addition to native talent, you can also see the talent of the mind". Intelligent, brilliant, with humor and excellent readings, an obvious talent for the stage, a strong, original personality, he could have become number one in any theater in Romania, if a sinful vice had not prevented him from being cast more confidently in leading roles.

Destiny wanted it differently: he played many roles, both bigger and smaller, instilling in them all artistic personality, inner beauty, humor, giving them something of his rich personality. But, because he often endangered – through inappropriate behavior – the fate of some performances, he was often bypassed from the casts, where it was clear, his place was difficult to replace. He was the favorite actor of the director Alexandru Colpacci – with whom he made several admirable roles, in performances of certain artistic value.

Between 1971 and 2000, the year of his premature death, Eugen Harizomenov played over a hundred roles, in a career that ended, in any case, prematurely. He started his artistic career right: he was one of the best, most profound interpreters of Aesop in the play "The Fox and the Grapes" (by Guilherme Figueiredo). He built his character - an authentic thinker! - with brilliant intelligence, not lacking in humor, warmth, and a certain cunning specific to brilliant minds. He also played, around that time, a Dr.Şmil (in "Apus de soare" by B.Şt.Delavrancea) who moved with devotion and sincerity. His Ion (in "Aceşti îngeri trişti" by DRPopescu) unanimously won over the audience, as well as the columnists present in the hall. Then, under the direction of his friend Colpacci, he created quite a few more memorable characters: a clever, clairvoyant, cheerful but also full of sadness in his eyes (in the show "The Empty King" by Evgheni Şvarţ), an unforgettable Dr. Birt - in a sparkling dialogue with Jean Săndulescu (in "Revolta de Caine" by Herman Wouk), then, a Diogenes ("Diogene the Dog" by Dumitru Solomon), who amazed with the complexity and seriousness of his approach to a difficult, multifaceted character like Diogenes. He had healthy humor, but also cunning, in the famous role of Ghiţă Pristanda ("O scrisoare pierdută" by ILCaragiale). He built one of the best roles, giving him many of the traits of characters he knew well, from his readings, but also from life, in Alexandru ("Balconul" by DRPopescu), a show that was considered a peak of that season. In the large-scale role – Prisâpkin (from „The Bedbug” by Vladamir Mayakovsky) – he made a great creation. And also with Alexandru Colpacci he worked, filigree, we would say, on the role of Treplev (from „The Seagull” by AP Chekhov). An intellectual Treplev, a writer in the making, sensitive, frustrated, tormented. Wonderful. In „Tsar Ivan…” by Mikhail Bulgakov he found many traits specific to Russians of a certain condition, meticulously building a Miloslavsky, a thief full of surprises, original and very funny. In the role of the revolutionary Lunz in the superb play „To the Stars” by Leonid Andreev, he was moderately outraged, but also full of sadness for how many ideals die in revolutions…

He worked with Sergiu Savin, perhaps less, but he has written in his artistic file several memorable roles, both in the dramatic and comic register: a Giorgetto ("The Tricks of Love" by G.M.Cecchi) or a Gravedigger and a Commander of terrible humor (in "The Seventh Commandment" by Dario Fo), an irresistible Zanni Traffichino (in the comedy "Fontana Trtevi" by G.L.Bernini), but he was also a mysterious Vlad II (the praise for the show is also due to him), in the unanimously appreciated show "The Fan House" (by Marin Sorescu), and a strong, energetic army leader (Maercius and Marcus, in the coupé show "The Beautiful Sabines - The Horse in the Senate" by Leonid Andreev), but also a cunning and unpredictable Goldberg (in "The Anniversary" by Harold Pinter). In "counterpointed couple with George Voinese, Eugen Harizomenov executes an intelligent paradialectic, bordering on the absurd" (writes the columnist in Literary Romania). He was a sensational, hypocritical and perverse, and full of unexpected Prime Minister in "The Dictator" by Al. Kiriţescu. He played, with the same aplomb and with equal dedication, characters of drama or comedy, big or episodic roles, because he was an authentic professional, prevented, only by the sinful alcohol, from becoming a true master.

He did not flirt with directing – he actually had the ability and pedagogical gift to work with colleagues, to guide their steps on stage. He did numerous assistant directing (at "Sunset", at "The Fan House", at "The Tricks of Love", at "Titanic Waltz", etc.). He directed some shows – at some of them he also signed the translation of the plays ("The Crazy Holidays..." by Carolyn Green), and played Higgins – full of humor, intelligent, a pampered lady – (in "Pygmalion" by GBShaw), "The Man Who Saw Death" (by Horia Lovinescu), "The Father, the Girl and the Three Kings" (by BPHaşdeu), "A Yankee in King Arthur's Court" (by Mark Twain).

He was also one of the actors appreciated by Alexandru Darie. In "Jolly Joker" he played three picturesque characters, with a sense of proportion and giving them different identities. With Laurian Oniga he ventured to create a Spiridon-Caragiale like no one had ever done before, original, even though he was vehemently contested by some critics ("O noapte furtunoasă"). He was an Ianke of overflowing joy ("Tache, Ianke și Cadâr" by VIPopa). He was an equal partner with the great guest actors (Radu Beligan, Marin Moraru, Ion Caramitru, Virgil Ogăşanu, Octavian Cotescu, Tamara Buciuceanu, etc.) in "Parada vedetelor" or in other shows.

He did not miss the poetry recitals, the recitals that have become traditional at the Oradea Theater: the performances of Eminescu, Mircea Dinescu, Al. Andriţoiu, Romulus Vulpescu, etc., and also in revues and cabarets.

He played dignified, important characters, embodied well-known personalities from history, or picturesque characters, unique in their own way, in the plays of his friend, playwright Mircea Bradu: Vataul ("White Night"), Frizerul ("The Cursed Village"), Mehmed ("Vlad the Impaler in January"), Matei ("The Return of the Prodigal Father"), Verbőczy ("The Heart").

He played numerous roles – albeit secondary ones – in films directed by Mircea Drăgan, Francisc Munteanu, Sergiu Nicolaescu, Nicolae Mărgineanu, and was the director of the Oradea State Theatre for two years (1994-1996), a "role" in which, for various reasons, he did not excel.

We conclude with the words of critic Ion Cocora: [Eugen Harizomenov] is "a concentrated, intelligent and serious actor in his role, sincere in his disclosure", to which critic Mircea Morariu adds, with obvious sympathy: "a prominent artistic personality of the Oradea State Theatre".

(Presentation by Elisabeta Pop)

Artistic sheet – Oradea State Theatre

• Dan Zamcea in THE MAN WHO … by Horia Lovinescu, 1971, dir. Alexandru Colpacci
• Aesop in THE FOX AND THE GRAPES by Guilherme Figueiredo, 1971, dir. Szombati Gille Otto
• Assistant director and Doctor Şmil in SUNSET by B.Şt.Delavrancea, 1971, directed by Nicoleta Toia
• Treplev in THE SEAGULL by A.P. Chekhov, 1972, dir. Alexandru Colpacci
• Mehmed, Boyar of the throne and Boyar of the suite Laiota in VLAD ȘEPEŞ IN JANUARY by Mircea Bradu, 1972, dir. Magda Bordeianu
• The Jester in THE HALLOW KING by Evgheni Şvarţ, 1972, dir. Alexandru Colpacci
• Dr. Birt in THE DOG'S REVOLT by Herman Wouk, 1973, directed by Szombati Gille Otto
• George in THE PRICE of a BOY, 1973, directed by Magda Bordeianu
• Ion in THESE SAD ANGELS by DRPopescu, 1973, dir. Alexandru Colpacci
• Bogdan in AN IMPOSSIBLE GIRL by Virgil Stoenescu, 1973, directed by Szombati Gille Otto
• Performer in BĂLCESCU, BEGINNING OF THE CALENDAR, 1973, directed by Dorel Urlăţeanu
• Şerban Halunga in THE METER READER by Paul Everac, 1973, directed by Nicoleta Toia
• Artistic co-director of GĬLCEVILE DIN CHIOGGIA by Carlo Goldoni, 1974
• Eugen in THE LONELINESS OF THE TARGET SHOOTER by Vasile Rebreanu and Mircea Zaciu, 1974, directed by Sergiu Savin
• Pekny in THE SIXTH POWER by Vincenzo di Mattia, 1974, dir. Alexandru Colpacci
• Hector in THE TROJAN WAR WILL HAVE NO PLACE by Jean Giraudoux, 1974, d.Szombati Gille Otto
• Octavian WHO KILLS LOVE? by Petru Vintilă, 1974, directed by Sergiu Savin
• Prisypkin in THE BEETLE by V. Mayakovsky, 1974, dir. Alexandru Colpacci
• The Prime Minister in THE DICTATOR by Al. Kiriţescu, 1975, directed by Sergiu Savin
• Time in THE WINTER'S TALE by William Shakespeare, 1975, dir. Alexandru Colpacci
• Ion Slavici in EMINESCU IN VIENNA by Stelian Vasilescu, 1975, directed by Ion Mâinea
• The Vataul in WHITE NIGHT by Mircea Bradu, 1975, dir. Zoe Anghel Stanca
• Assistant artistic director in THE NAMELESS STAR by Mihail Sebastian, 1975, dir. Szombati Gille Otto
• McCue in THE BOMB OF THE DAY by Ben Hecht and Charles McArthur, 1976, dir. Szombati Gille Otto
• Alex on the Balcony by DR Popescu, 1976, directed by Alexandru Colpacci
• Zanni Traffichino in THE TREVI FOUNTAIN by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, 1976, directed by Sergiu Savin
• Horia in WHEN THE GRASS HAS A HUMAN FACE (AND THE NIGHTS OF LOVE WILL COME) by Rodica Padină, 1976, dir. Szombati Gille Otto
• Iosif Lunz in TOWARDS THE STARS by Leonid Andreev, 1976, dir. Alexandru Colpacci
• The Judge and the Gravedigger III in THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT: STEALING A LESS by Dario Fo, 1977, directed by Sergiu Savin
• Sylvestre in THE WICKEDNESS OF THE BULL by Molière, 1978, directed by Domniţa Munteanu
• Consumer in TONIGHT IS IMPROVISING by Luigi Pirandello, 1978, dir. Alexandru Colpacci
• Ulysses in RHESOS (THE THRACIAN KING) by Euripides, 1979, directed by Sergiu Savin
• Verbőczy in INIMA by Mircea Bradu, 1979, dir. Alexandru Colpacci
• Lefėbvre in MADAME SANS-GÊNE by Victorien Sardou and E.Moreau, 1979, dir. Szombati Gille Otto
• The conquering king in HEART OF CRYSTAL by Lev Ustinov, 1979, dir. Szombati Gille Otto
• Ghiță Pristanda in A LOST LETTER by IL Caragiale, 1979, dir. Alexandru Colpacci
• Earacheatu in FURNITURE AND PAIN by Teodor Mazilu, 1979, directed by Mircea Cornişteanu
• The valet in THE GHOST WITH BRACES by Mircea Bereş, 1979, directed by Mircea Cornişteanu
• The Doctor in HOW CATINCA BECAME AN OLD GIRL by Nelu Ionescu, 1980, directed by Eugen Ţugulea
• The militiaman in THE SWEET HYPOCRISY OF THE MATURE MAN by Tudor Popescu, 1980, directed by Mihai Lungeanu
• Diogenes in DIOGENES THE DOG by Dumitru Solomon, 1980, dir. Alexandru Colpacci
• Bălţatu in IOVIŢĂ'S BOOK by Paul Everac, 1981, dir. Dan Alecsandrescu
• Miloslawski in Tsar Ivan Changes His Profession by Mikhail Bulgakov, 1981, dir. Alexandru Colpacci
• The Policeman in DOUBLE GAME by Robert Thomas, 1981, dir. Szombati Gille Otto
• Assistant director on CASA EVANTAI by Marin Sorescu, 1981, directed by Sergiu Savin
• Vlad II in the HOUSE OF THE FLYERS by Marin Sorescu, 1981, directed by Sergiu Savin
• Beauperthuis in THE FLORENTINE HAT by Eugène Labiche, 1982, dir. Zoe Anghel Stanca
• Maercius and Marcus in the coupé show THE SABINE BLESSINGS and THE HORSE IN THE SENATE by Leonid Andreev, 1982, dir. Sergiu Savin
• Performer in A FEW DEPARTURES IN TIME, 1982, directed by Cristina Şchiopu
• Fudulu in THE CHANGE OF FACE by G.M. Zamfirescu, 1982, dir. Eugen Mercus
• Goldberg in THE ANNIVERSARY by Harold Pinter, 1983, dir. Sergiu Savin
• Assistant director on TITANIC WALTZ by Tudor Muşatescu, 1983, dir. Ion Cojar
• Rădulescu-Nercea in TITANIC WALTZ by Tudor Muşatescu, 1983, directed by Ion Cojar
• Performer in THE WAVES OF LIFE by Tudor Muşatescu, 1983, directed by Ion Cojar
• Performer in ARTS AND CRAFTS by Romulus Vulpescu, 1983, directed by Cristina Şchiopu
• Tudor Şerban in THE ART OF CONVERSATION by Ileana Vulpescu, 1983, dir. Zoe Anghel Stanca
• Benea, Stere and Manea in JOLLY JOKER by Tudor Popescu, 1984, dir. Alexandru Darie
• Performer in ENTERTAINMENT '84, 1984, directed by Gábor József and Gábor Kati
• The Barber in the CURSED VILLAGE by Mircea Bradu, 1984, directed by Sergiu Savin
• Artistic direction for FATHER, DAUGHTER AND THREE KINGS (THREE KINGS FROM THE EAST) by BPHaşdeu, 1985
• Performer in PARADE VEDETELOR, 1985, directed by Petru Popescu
• Performer in ONE MORE SONG, ONE MORE Joke, 1985, directed by Gábor József and Gábor Kati
• Matthew in THE RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL FATHER by Mircea Bradu, 1985, directed by Sergiu Savin
• Baraboi in DREAM OF LOVE (DREAM OF DRYNESS) by Mircea Ştefănescu, 1986, dir. Zoe Anghel Stanca
• Bălţatu in IOVIŢĂ'S BOOK (remake) by Paul Everac, 1986, dir. Dan Alecsandrescu
• Performer BUILD IN LOVE (Marin Sorescu poetry performance), 1986, directed by Sergiu Savin
• Leicester Paton in THE FASHION OF MARRIAGES (WHO'S MY HUSBAND?) by Somerset Maugham, 1986, dir. Sergiu Savin
• Performer in THE QUIET SEASON, 1987, directed by Sergiu Savin
• Performer in MAGNUM MOPHTOLOGICUM, 1987
• Grămescu in THE LITTLE GIRL by Ion Băieşu, 1987, directed by Radu Băieşu
• Spiridon in A STORMY NIGHT by ILCaragiale, 1987, directed by Laurian Oniga
• Assistant director on THE WICKS OF LOVE (HUHUREZUL) by Giovanni Maria Cecchi, 1988, dir. Sergiu Savin
• Giorgetto in THE WICKEDNESS OF LOVE (HUHUREZUL) by Giovanni Maria Cecchi, 1988, dir. Sergiu Savin
• Artistic direction at DOR DE EMINESCU, 1988
• Performer in AT YOUR DISPOSITION, 1988, directed by Sergiu Savin
• Pavel Cristian in THE NEXT ROOM by Paul Everac, 1988, dir. Ion Mâinea
• Venczel in THE POWDER MILL by DRPopescu, 1989, directed by Ioan Ieremia
• Performer in UNCENSORED, 1990, directed by Sergiu Savin
• Colonel Lukin in THE SECRET OF THE POSKET FAMILY by Arthur W. Pinero, 1990, director Ion Mainea
• Translation, artistic direction and set design for THE CRAZY NEW YORK HOLIDAY by Carolyn Green, 1990
• Ivan Ivanovic in WE ARE URGENTLY LOOKING FOR A COMMUNIST GRANDFATHER (THE MANDATE) by Nikolai Erdman, 1991, dir. Cornel Mihalache
• Art direction, soundtrack and Henry Higgins in PYGMALION by GBShaw, 1992
• The Commissioner in THE VENETIAN TRIPLES by Antonio Mattiuzzi aka Collalto, 1993, directed by Cristian Ioan
• Artistic direction of A YANKEE IN KING ARTHUR'S COURT by Mark Twain, 1993
• Art direction and musical illustration in COME TAKE THE LIGHT, 1994
• His Excellency Caro in the ART OF COMEDY by Eduardo de Filippo, 1994, directed by Mihai Lungeanu
• Artistic direction at IS THE PRESENT NOT GOOD FOR US?, 1995
• Ianke TACHE, IANKE AND CADÂR by Victor Ion Popa, 1995, directed by Mihai Fotino
• Artistic direction for THE MAN WHO SAW DEATH by Victor Eftimiu, 1996
• The Colonel in IF THERE IS NO LOVE… by Elena Preda and Eugen Ţugulea based on the novel by Marin Preda, 1998, dir. Eugen Ţugulea
• The Cowherd in the COLD by Marin Sorescu, 1998, directed by Ion Ciubotaru
• Artistic direction for THE ASSEMBLY OF WOMEN by Aristophanes, 1998
• The station master in THE NAMELESS STAR by Mihail Sebastian, 1999, directed by Florin Antoniu
• Art direction, stage design and set design in IS THE MURDERER AMONG US? (EIGHT WOMEN) by Robert Thomas, 1999