Comedy in five acts by Ben Jonson
Translation: Mihnea Gheorghiu

Artistic director: Ion Deloreanu
Scenography: Alexandru Olian
Musical illustration: Miron Raţiu, conductor at the Oradea State Philharmonic
Choreography: Eva Ombódi
Premiere date: April 4, 1965

The plot of the play "Volpone" is based on the ancient theme of the chase for inheritance. Volpone, magnifico from Venice, the fabulous city of luxury, but also of all vices, collects treasures and riches from the gifts that his flatterers give him daily, in the hope of winning his sympathy and, implicitly, his fortune, after death. Helped by his parasite, Mosca, Volpone pretends to be terminally ill, when in reality he is in full physical strength, capable of scheming and intrigue. For him, money is an "idol" on the altar.

The main claimants to the inheritance are the lawyer Voltore, the old man Corbaccio and the merchant Corvino. Desiring Celia, Corvino's wife, Volpone hatches a plan to have her. Mosca goes to Corvino's house and claims that a council of doctors has recommended the bed company of a beautiful woman to his ailing master. Always thinking about the inheritance, Corvino is ready to commit cuckoldry willingly and takes his wife to Volpone's house. Celia defends her honor at all costs, and the situation is saved at the last moment by Bonario, Corbaccio's son.

The climax of the play is reached when Volpone stages his own death, in order to observe the reactions of those who coveted his wealth. In a dramatic move, Volpone designates Mosca as the sole heir, who, by the way, fits the role of the newly rich man very well. To laugh even more at the fools, Volpone disguises himself as commander and madly enrages the three disinherited: Voltore, Corbaccio and Corvino.

A brief moment of sincerity by Voltore in the Senate House unravels all the threads. When Mosca refuses to help his master any longer, he exposes himself, throwing off the travesty. Justice triumphs, as in the moralizing fables whose imprint is visible throughout the play: the guilty (Voltore, Corbaccio, Corvino) are punished, the innocent (Celia, Bonario) are served justice; Mosca is condemned to be flogged and sent to the galleys for life, and Volpone is imprisoned until he dies of the diseases he has simulated, because, as he himself admits, "this is what happens to the voracious fox.".

Distribution:

Volpone:  John the Baptist
Fly:  Jean Sandulescu
Voltor:  Ilie Iliescu
Corbaccio:  Constantin Simionescu
Corvinus:  Octavian Uleu
Bonario:  George Pintilescu
Sir Polithik:  Nicholas Thomas
Peregrine:  Ion Abrudan
Jude I:  Valentin Avrigeanu, Ion Martin
Judges II:  Valeriu Grama
Jude III:  Boris Petroff
Jude IV:  Marcel Segărceanu
Lady Polithik:  Alla Tautu
Celia:  Olga the Serb
Maid I:  Mia Popescu
Maid II:  Doina Ioja

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