Comedy in two parts by Friedrich Dürrenmatt
Translation: Aneta Dobre

Artistic direction and set design: Cristian Ioan
Costumes: Doina Antemir
Premiere date: February 20, 1997

Set in classical Greek antiquity, the play "The Trial for the Shadow of a Donkey" unequivocally demonstrates that human weaknesses remain current at all times, materializing through "the alteration of interhuman relations due to either stupidity, or rapacity, or ambition, or the alienation of personality in a certain social context. The whole mess caused by the fact that a person [the dentist Struthion] who rented a donkey took advantage of its shadow to protect himself from the heat, thus provoking the wrath of the owner [Antrax] - who addressed the justice claiming that he rented only the animal, not its shadow - is transformed into a living tableau, of an absurd nature, made in violent strokes. The diversion of the initial pretext towards other interests is well followed, until the dispute converts into a huge advertising campaign, with commercial, but especially political objectives, the lawyers [Phisignata and Polyphonos] of the two parties involved in the process, becoming the leaders of two competing parties: the party of shadows and the party of donkeys. The grotesque insinuates itself from the first confrontations, from the similar way in which each side shouts that they want justice, but each understands something completely different by this justice, and it is amplified as the interval between form and substance increases, as meanings are diverted, as logic folds in front of the offensive of the absurd.” (Dumitru Chirilă in “Familia”, no. 3/1997). Since none of the camps gives in, the conflict heads towards a predictable outcome – war – but a war from which no one emerges victorious, on the contrary, a huge fire destroys the entire city, “over the comedy of poor human passions the ashes of total destruction are spread” (Pașcu Balaci in “Crișana”, March 13, 1997). In the end, the donkey himself comes out on top, rhetorically asking: "After everything that's happened here, who's the donkey?", proving to be the most lucid and sensitive character to the series of aberrations that happened because of, but not out of his will.

Distribution:

Ostrich:  John Coman
Anthrax:  Doru Firte
Crobyles:  Elvira Platon Rîmbu
Philippides:  Dorin Presecan
Polyphonos and the First Man of the Donkey Party:  Ion Abrudan
Phisignata and The Second Man in the Shadow Party:  Mariana Neagu
Peleia:  Mariana Presecan
Mastax:  Tiberiu Covaci 
Tirphys:  Daniel Vulcu
Telesia:  Roxana Ivanciu
Iris:  Ileana Iurciuc
Strobilus:  Ion Tomorrow
Agathyrsus:  Ilie Turcu
Miltias:  Alexander Cornea
The President of the Tourist Office and the First Flute Player:  Andra Tudor
The president of the animal protection society, Poliphem, and Ketos:  Ion Ruscut
Director of the joint-stock company:  Marcel Popa 
An agitator, Leonidas, Kolon and Perseus:  George Voinese
The donkey:  Nicholas Thomas
Pyrope:  Eugen Tugulea
Cloe Struthion, Flutist II, Gorgona:  Ofelia Fîrte
Fanula, Pamphagus:  Monalisa Basarab
The Sun and the Moon:  Loredana Iuga

Technical director: Florin Popescu
Prompter: Iuliana Chelu
Lighting: Iosif Balogh, Laviniu Goron
Sound: Sorin Domide