TIRANA, April 20 – Aristophanes’ ancient Greece “Assemblywomen” comedy is staging at the National Theatre as the “Power of Women” in a premiere brought by Albanian director Spiro Duni, unveiling how power alienates not only men, but also women.
“I wanted to convey the message of how demagogy and endless promises by those seeking to assume power are only tools and lies are what dominates after coming to power,” says director Duni, who is staging the ancient Greek comedy with some crucial changes, adapting it to the Albanian reality.
“It was not my intention to bring the ancient times of Pericles, but talk about Albania,” says Duni, also known as an actor and film director.
“I took the nature of conflict from Aristophanes, the basic events, the expressive dialogues and harmonized them in a new work which is neither ancient Greece, nor present day Albania or any other concrete country. A place with no name has been symbolically found as a setting where events take place, develop and ideas come up to somehow serve the mood and entertainment of spectators,” says Duni.
Actress Flaura Kureta who stars as Leonora in the comedy says the character she plays is the aspiration of thousands of demagogues and adventurers around the world and does not necessarily represent a woman. “That could have perfectly been a man,” she says.
A cast of 20 actors with Naun Shundi, Rajmonda Bulku and Elia Zaharia also starring will be performing the comedy this weekend from April 21 to 23 at the National Theatre after following its April 14 premiere.
