Chisinau-based National Theatre stages anniversary play in honour of famous Moldovan writer

Chisinau, 4 September /MOLDPRES/ - An anniversary play, Casa Mare (Guests Room), in honour of famous Moldovan writer Ion Druta, who has turned 90, was staged at the Mihai Eminescu National Theatre on 3 September evening.     

Attending the event, Education, Culture and Research Minister Monica Babuc said that any meeting with Ion Druta’s works leaves deep spots in everybody’s soul, as the works of Druta had marked entire generations, enriching the written legacy of Moldova. “A symbol of kindness, love and decency, Casa Mare represents the place of the soul where a man keeps what he/she has nobler and cleaner. This masterpiece of the literature is a true textbook of ethics, valid for the present world as well,” Monica Babuc said.  

For his part, the director of the Mihai Eminescu National Theatre, People’s Artist Petru Hadarca said that, through his works, Ion Druta had contributed to the education of the young generation, which later started the fight in the years of the movement for national revival and liberation.    

In the context, stage manager Alexa Visarion from Romania, who got acquainted with the writer in Moscow and Bucharest, said that Ion Druta was “the backbone of our Romanian identity.” He conveyed to Ion Druta a diploma of excellence on behalf of the Dialog International Association. The diploma is to be awarded to Ion Druta on Moldovan capital’s dedication day, when the writer promised to come to Chisinau.   

The play Casa Mare for the first time ever was staged at the Moscow-based Central Theatre of the Soviet Army and by the A.S. Pushkin musical and dramatic theatre from Chisinau, with actress Domnica Darienco playing the leading part, stage manager Victor Gherlac. Afterwards, in the 1990s, stage manager Nicoleta Toia staged this play at the Mihai Eminescu studio theatre, with Viorica Chirca and Petru Hadarca playing the leading parts.    

The play Casa Mare was a success with the audience and was appreciated by the literary critic. This play was the first one by Ion Druta, which opened the way towards a string of plays signed by the writer and staged in more theatres from the ex-Soviet space. In 1967, Ion Druta was awarded the State Prize of the Moldovan Soviet Socialist Republic for this play.    

(Reporter N. Roibu, editor M. Jantovan)