Chisinau-based theatre to stage four plays to build monument to departed Moldovan actor

Chisinau, 29 January /MOLDPRES/ - The Satiricus I.L. Caragiale National Theatre will stage four plays in the memory of departed actor Mihai Curagau. The money raised will be used for building a monument in the memory of the actor – one of the founders of the aforementioned theatre.  

According to the organizers, the four reference plays were much appreciated and loved by Mihai Curagau. Two of them have been already presented. It is about Hamlet by William Shakespeare, staged on 21 December and The Wedding by Anton Chekhov, presented on 12 January. The play, The Master and Margarita, by Mikhail Bulgakov, will be staged on 31 January and the play, A Lost Letter, by I.L. Caragiale – on 21 February.         

The initiative to build a monument to the departed actor, Mihai Curagau, was launched by the Satiricus I.L. Caragiale National Theatre last year, during the presentation of the film, Miliard,(Billion), created by producer Sergiu Cumatrenco junior. The event took place two years after the passing away of actor Mihai Curagau – the main protagonist of the movie who, regretfully, failed to see the result of the aforementioned artistic work.  

At the launch of the film, the movie’s author and the actors of the Satiricus I.L. Caragiale National Theatre, led by the artistic director Alexandru Grecu, ruled to collect 200,000 lei – the sum needed to set a monument in the memory of the actor. Also at that time, dozens of admirers of the master’s creation, present at the event, had possibility to donate money for the carrying out of this spiritual project, meant to eternalize the memory of actor Mihai Curagau for the present and next generations.  

Under the project, a small memorial is to be created, which will present the actor’s statue, due to have a QR code. Thus, any tourist will be able to scan and learn the necessary information about this outstanding personality of the national theatrical art.  

During one year, thanks to the efforts made by these enthusiasts, almost a half of the sum scheduled has been collected. The colleagues from the Satiricus theatre, - the theatre where Mihai Curagau worked since 1990 till his death, decided to do their utmost to set this monument, namely an artistic composition in front of the Theatre on the Mihai Eminescu Street.  

According to the news portal ER NEWS, the Moldovan Diaspora from the Netherlands and Belgium, where the movie, Billion, was screened, with Mihai Curagau as protagonist, organized actions to raise funds for the erection of a monument dedicated to Curagau. As a result of these actions, held in Amsterdam and Brussels, 1,340 euros was collected in all for the erection of the monument in the honour of the departed actor.   

Mihai Curagau was born in the Balanesti village, central Nisporeni district, on 15 August 1943. He made studies in theatre and film acting at the Gavriil Musicescu Arts Institute from Chisinau (1960-1964). After graduating the faculty, Curagau was employed at the Alexander Pushkin Musical and Dramatic Theatre from Chisinau (presently the Mihai Eminescu National theatre), where he played especially comedy parts.        

Mihai Curagau debuted as film actor in 1967, at the Moldova-film film studio in a movie by Gheorghe Voda, Se caută un paznic (A Guard is Sought), playing the part of Michiduţă (small devil). Curagau subsequently cooperated with other prestigious film directors from Moldova: Emil Loteanu, Vasile Pascaru and Tudor Tataru. One of the best known parts is the one of Ion in the film Polobocul (The Barrel) (1991). Mihai Curagau was awarded the honorific title of People’s Artist and the Order of the Republic. He played more than 100 parts on stage and appeared in about 40 films. The departed theatre critic, Gheorghe Cincilei, described Curagau as “quick silver on stage” and “a true phenomenon in Moldova’s theatrical art.” Mihai Curagau died at the age of 73 on 24 December 2016. He was buried at the Central Orthodox Cemetery on the Armeneasca Street from Chisinau.