Tragic comedy in two parts by Paul Everac
Absolute premiere

Artistic director: Nicoleta Toia
Assistant director: Eugen Harizomenov
Decor: architect Liviu Răuteanu
Costumes: Maria Hateganu
Premiere date: September 29, 1973

Architect Jinga, the central character of the play "The Meter Reader", is a spoiled brat: his great professional achievements were doubled by the selfless love of a beautiful student, the well-being of the house was completed by the understanding and peace provided by a docile wife. How many of these goods were won by honest means? To what extent was the struggle with life, from which he always emerged victorious, fought with honest means? What price will he have to pay for everything he has? These are the questions that the Meter Reader, the symbolic character conceived by the author as a voice of conscience, asks Jinga. The real duration of what happens on stage is that of a process of consciousness. The reader forces Jinga to make efforts of memory, thanks to which past events are put in a new light, not exactly favorable to their hero. Beyond appearances, Jinga is forced to admit that many of his successes are due to an ability to adapt to the "demands of the era." Forced to see things differently than he likes, Jinga understands that Clara's love could be fleeting, that his wife's docility does not exclude possible infidelity, that the children's independence could have unpleasant consequences, that the highway he designed could be considered over time as "a great architectural error.".

The meter reader warns him from the beginning that he will have to pay. The price Jinga pays is doubt, turmoil, the collapse of self-confidence, understanding that the comfortable pact between conscience and compromise can only be temporary.

Distribution:

Arch. Gheorghe Jinga:  Jean Sandulescu
Amelia Jinga:  Simona Constantinescu
Octav Jinga:  Adrian Pintea (student, debut)
Neli Jinga:  Kati Gabor
Jinga Sevasta:  Anca Miere Chirilă
Clara Mogos:  Mia Popescu
Arch. Cosmescu:  Eugen Tugulea
Serban Halunga:  Eugen Harizomenov
Dr. Negrin:  Frigid Palóczy, Marcel Popa 
Meter reader:  Ion Abrudan

Technical director: Elena Varlam
Prompter: Gigi Groşanu
Lighting: Vasile Blejan
Sound: Dorel Olea