Play in two parts (seven scenes) by Al. Kiriţescu

Artistic direction:  Otto Szombati Gille
Assistant director: Alla Tăutu
Decor: Mircea Matcaboji
Costumes: Edit Schrantz Kunovits
Music illustration: Zoltán Boros
Premiere date: September 14, 1969

„"Michelangelo" is part of the "Renaissance Trilogy" (along with "The Wedding of Perugia" and "The Borgias"), inspired by the impressions accumulated by the Romanian playwright after a trip to Italy. "Michelangelo" is a period show, but above all an aesthetic debate on the condition of the artist. As the title suggests, the play is dedicated to Michelangelo, the prototype of the Renaissance man, a synthesis of the most valued artistic, civic and human qualities. Under the appearance of harshness and misanthropy, the artist portrayed by Kiriţescu hides immense resources of humanity, tenderness, and gentleness.

The play highlights the creator's struggle, the agonizing struggle with himself, with destiny, the drama of the isolated man. However, in addition to the attempt to decipher the mystery of creation, so impressively embodied in the Sistine Chapel, the dramatic binder remains a love intrigue.

As we can read in the Director's Note in the program booklet, the play brings to the stage "less of a historical Michelangelo and more of a human Michelangelo, a creator who fights with all his might to attribute perfection to forms." Indeed, Michelangelo did not know the serenity of creation like Raphael, for example. Artistic ideas were transposed into stone with passion, suffering and turmoil. The play's action and long tirades capture the effervescent, renewing aspects of Renaissance culture and the free spirit that could be perceived in all intellectual manifestations. As a whole, the play is a firm plea for art.

Distribution:

Michelangelo Buonarroti:  Ion Tomorrow
Rafael Sanzio:  Nicolae Barosan
Bramante:  Nicholas Thomas 
Pope Julius II:  Dorel Urlățeanu emeritus artist
Cardinal Giovanni de Medici:  Marcel Segărceanu
Prince Gaetano Colonna:  Mircea Olariu
Ser Antonello:  Ben Dumitrescu
Sir Giovanni:  George Pintilescu
Boccacino Serum:  Jean Sandulescu
Gianino:  Ana Popa
Battista della Palla:  Eugen Tugulea
Rinaldo Corsini:  Ion Abrudan
Gherado Gherardi:  Octavian Uleu
Beppo the lunatic:  John Martin
Francis of Urbino:  Grig Dristaru
Lelio:  George Stana
Chercio:  Constantin Simionescu
Bridget:  Andra Teodorescu
Empire:  Simona Constantinescu
Antennas:  Corneliu Zdrehus
A soldier:  Grig Schiţcu

Technical director: Dalma Simionescu
Prompter: Agy Segărceanu
Sound: Dorel Olea