by Camil Petrescu

Artistic director: Marietta Sadova
Scenography: Tatiana Manolescu Uleu
Premiere date: February 11, 1967

A land of calm appearances and passionate outbursts, of cynical confrontations and frankness, of soulful errors and tragic enlightenments, "Venetian Act" is more than a drama of love, a drama of honor, a category so specific to the southern world. Pietro Gralla and Alta, married several years ago out of love, are the protagonists of a complex conflict, triggered when Cellino, a young, philistine patrician, Pietro's subordinate, appears by chance in their house. Abandoned ten years ago by Cellino, Alta has always dreamed, at least subconsciously, of him, in fact, of the image she imagined. The confrontation between Alta and Pietro has its substratum in the different attitude of the two towards life and in the different representations they have about love. Pietro carries out his life according to principles, in concepts, he claims the world logically. Alta has a perception of concrete life, her participation in knowledge is of an intuitive nature.

Losing love, the two lose the ordering meaning of their lives. Pietro goes far away, it is not known where, probably to resume his life as a fighter on the seas, and Alta that of an artist. If they survive spiritually, giving a meaning to their lives – other than love – they will save themselves.

Distribution:

Other:  Viorica Cernucan
Pietro Gralla:  Vladimir Jurascu
Nicola:  Octavian Uleu
A maid:  Doina Urlăţeanu, Anca Miere Chirilă
Marcello Mariani:  George Pintilescu

Technical director: Elena Varlam
Prompter: Agy Segărceanu