INSIDE Day 4 - narrated by Radu Apostol

For the second draft reading, playwrights, directors and choreograph gathered at Vera’s place. I was the first to be very happy about it because I live just a few blocks away.  Is a good thing to be part of independent artistic projects, at least for the fact that you don’t have to travel downtown. Suburbs and far away districts are the ideal place for you to be! 

Andreea Duta & Radu Apostol, on Vera's balcony

So there I was the first to be present at the meeting. We started late due to traffic jams that often happen even in a small distant town as Bucharest. But anyway, we started: a small apartment, from the late 70’s, a typical communist architecture, in which you feel that you are in a deep and permanent connection not only with what’s happening in the other tiny rooms but also with what happens on the street or with your neighbors – it’s like living in a Breaking-News TV Station (please, google “OTV Romanian TV Station” and you’ll have a sense of this feeling wherever you live).  Anyway, we managed to hear each other. We were sometimes greeted by this young neutered Ex-Tom Cat called Farty, very human like… And sometimes we could enjoy our cigarettes indoor which I presume is another advantage of working alongside independent artists in small apartments since in public institutions smoking is prohibited.   Well, we had also a great diner prepared by Vera’s husband: lentil with lemon juice and cream. Yummy! And last, but not least, we had a cozy host, Vera to whom I thank for having us all in her place.

Tamilla Woodard, Vera Ion & Farty

The second draft. Amazing. I only can be very thankful to PopUpTheatrics who invited me in this project and to all of you, the sponsors who actually made this gathering possible. I am not able to imagine what you feel about this project or how you guys predict it will develop, but you managed to bring together so talented artists from so different places, working together on a site-specific piece about the Romanian Peasant Museum. And I think it is great! That for I think you’re better than any other European Parliament with its cultural policies and if I would be able to send you all to the EU Parliament, I would do it! We have EU elections soon, would you consider it? Being elected as our representatives? If not, it is ok as well, since you’ll always find amazing initiatives as the one we’re part of: INSIDE the National Romanian Peasant Museum!

Peca Stefan, Andreea Duta, Farty

Before we started the reading of the second draft, Tam and Ella shared with us their strongest insights after visiting the Romanian Peasant Museum during this afternoon. I won’t be able to reproduce their insights here; they will do it for you, for sure. But what fascinated me is the fact that we all Americans, English and Romanians vibrate right now to this unique museum that we have here, in Bucharest. You won’t believe me if I tell you that all the three plays –born overnight, during very tense moments, under terrible pressure similar to a worldwide war - are somehow part of one genuine voice that timidly asks:  does the permanent conflict of the Inside and the Outside of our presence define who we are? We can’t exist without this silly childish conflict of our inner self and of our outer self. And although each play has its own very specific vibe, a different touch of emotion, a different style of delivery, they all stand for the belief that “together” unlike “apart” would always enlighten our pears, flourish their lives.
There is a wall rising on the eastern part of our so old and fornicatory Europe. We should enjoy these gatherings as long as we can afford them. And for this I thank you and invite you all to our show.