by B.Şt.Delavrancea, with a prologue from the life of Stephen the Great, by Mihail Sadoveanu

Artistic director: Nicoleta Toia
Assistant director: Eugen Harizomenov
Scenography: Eliza Popescu
Incidental music: Adi Braun
Premiere date: December 30, 1971

"Sunset" opens the "Moldova Trilogy" and is the result of a thorough work of documentation from historical works and folkloric traditions. Inspired by history, it was considered a living chronicle, a large fresco of the turbulent reign of Stephen the Great. The modern note of the play lies in the fact that the emphasis is placed on the internal, psychological conflict, not on the external confrontation between the heroes and the opposing groups. There is a social-political conflict, but it plays a secondary role. It centers around the transfer of power. Voivode Stephen, proud of the victory of his son, Bogdan, decided to enthrone him as ruler. Stephen also checks the judgments made by Bogdan, who also passes this test of worthiness. The plot of the three boyars, led by Ulea, who want to enthrone Ștefăniță, disregarding the ruler's will, precipitates his decision. The climax of the play is reached in Act III, the enthronement, when Ștefan cel Mare also delivers a pathetic and moving speech, full of images with mythological resonance.

Stefan's face is depicted in two poses: that of a man and that of a ruler. The dissociation between the two is visible when Lady Maria asks him: "What hurts you?", and he replies: "Nothing about the prince of Moldavia... And everything about Stefan Mușatin, the son of Bogdan and the grandson of Alexandru cel Bun." The presentation of the hero on the threshold of "sunset", when he has to face not only external adversities, but also his own weaknesses, illness and death, reveals new dimensions and contributes to the even more striking affirmation of his heroic nature, specific to romantic drama, whose evolution in Romanian literature is completed by this creation by Delavrancea.

Distribution:

Stefan:  Nicholas Thomas
The Moghul Clucer:  George Pintilescu
The Logophat Taut:  Ion Tomorrow
Hetman Arbore:  Eugen Tugulea
Bogdan:  Palóczy Frigyes, Emil Schmidt
Toader's Bed Sheet:  Ion Abrudan
The Grumazha Párcalabul:  Grig Dristaru
The Alexa scoundrel:  Mihai Paunescu
Dragoş the Pîrcălabul:  Marcel Segărceanu
The swindler Şandru:  Grig Schiţcu
Old Man Hraman:  John Martin
The scoundrel Jurj:   Corneliu Zdrehus
The Cupbearer Ulea:  Jean Sandulescu
The Steward Dragan:  Nicolae Barosan
The Jitnicer Stavăr:  George Stana
Petru Rares:  Geo Nune
Doctor Cesena:  Dorel Urlățeanu emeritus artist
Doctor Shmil:  Eugen Harizomenov
Mrs. Mary:  Alla Tautu 
Irina:  Simona Constantinescu 
Revive:  Doina Urlățeanu
The Dochia:  Olympia Tomorrow
Oana:  Dorina Paunescu
Ilinca:  Anca Miere Chirilă
Denial:  Ana Popa
Ileana:  Doina Ioja
Balasa:  Marlena Prigoreanu
Oleana:  Marta Nagy 
Stanisoara:  Virginia Rogin

Technical director: Dalma Simionescu
Prompter: Sofica Spoiala
Lighting: Vasile Blejan, Emeric Kozák
Sound: Dorel Olea