Marin Sorescu’s play "Iona" captivates audience in Chisinau
An exceptional theatrical event took place in Chisinau! The National Theater "Satiricus Ion Luca Caragiale" hosted a performance of "Iona," based on the play by Romanian playwright Marin Sorescu. Inspired by the biblical story of Jonah, the character who is swallowed by a giant fish, Sorescu's play reinterprets this tale through existential and absurd lens. What captivated the audience was the performance of Kuranosuke Sasaki, a prominent figure in the Japanese theater and cinema, who played the main role.
The theatrical premiere of "Iona," where deep Romanian spirituality meets the refinement of Japanese culture, attracted numerous spectators at the "Satiricus" Theater.
"I want to see a different kind of show and a unique interpretation of a play that I really like, written by Marin Sorescu," commented one audience member.
"I am a fan of Japanese culture, and that is why I chose to come," another spectator shared.
"We are going to Sibiu, especially at the end of the month, to see the show 'Faust' directed by Silviu Purcărete. When I heard that 'Iona,' staged by this director, would be performed here, I came with great interest," said a visitor to the theater.
"Every time I come to Moldova, I make it a point to visit the theater and take my mother with me. It felt like a unique experience, especially because the performance is in Japanese with translations. Purcărete is an acclaimed director, and there is so much Shakespearean influence and rich history behind it. How could I not come to such a theater?" said Victoria Kulikovski.
Inspired by the biblical myth of Jonah, who was swallowed by a big fish, Marin Sorescu's play and the Romanian-Japanese performance directed by Silviu Purcărete serve as a metaphor for the meaning of human existence.
"As a Japanese, I am unfamiliar with the Bible or the prophet Jonah. I approached the character as if it were the story of a simple fisherman. The message of the play is very relevant and holds universal value. It reflects man's continuous struggle and his attempt to find himself in an increasingly dehumanized world," said Kuranosuke Sasaki, one of the actors.
"This is a unique production in the world. We are not just experiencing a theater performance; we are also being introduced to a special aspect of Japanese culture—a style of theater created in perfect harmony with Romanian artistic influences," noted Alexandru Grecu, director of the “Satiricus” National Theater.
The Romanian-Japanese production premiered on May 21 and 22 in Sibiu, followed by additional performances for the audience.
"So far, we have toured Romania and several European cities. The reaction has exceeded our expectations; all performances were sold out in Budapest, Cluj Napoca, Bucharest, and now here in Chișinău," said Claudia Maior from the "Radu Stanca" National Theatre in Sibiu.
In the fall, at the beginning of the new theater season, the show "Iona" will join the repertoire of the prestigious Metropolitan Theatre in Tokyo.
