The Centre of Visual Arts and Research (CVAR) and Alpha Square, are celebrating World Museum Day by presenting a dramatic salute to the last Queen of Cyprus, Caterina Cornaro.
It is a theatrical monologue in English, whereby Caterina Cornaro of Venice recounts her story, from the age of 14 until her death, her life in Cyprus and her bond with the island, as well as her tragic and oppressed status as a pawn of ruthless politics aiming at the island’s domination.
Caterina is portrayed by Christina Marouchou, directed by Andreas Araouzos. The original text is by Anthie Zachariadou and the visual design by Giorgos Yiannou.
The show was warmly welcomed by audiences and a series of extra shows were added in the summer of 2015.
Due to popular demand, the show returned for extra performances in September 2015 and September 2016 and June 2017.
*Reviews*
For audience reviews click here.
“The compelling, true story is told with a remarkable subtlety and skill by Marouchou who never resorts to tricks to share this tale. (…) The range of emotions throughout the play allow Marouchou to showcase her talents even though the play is just under an hour long”
Neo Magazine Review, for the performance at the United Solo Theater Festival in New York in 2017.
“Η Μαρούχου σήκωσε το βάρος ενός αντισυμβατιού μονολόγου, με ιστορικό υπόβαθρο, χωρίς να κουράζει η αφηγηματική ροή του, αφού η ίδια χωρίς υπερβολή, διατηρώντας το μέτρο τηε ουσιαστικής υποκριτικής εκφοράς κατάφερε να φέρει εις πέρας με επιτυχία μια δύσκολη αποστολή. (…) κατάλαβα πως αυτή η γυναίκα σχοινοβατούσε μεταξύ του κόσμου των θνητ’ων και των θεών, της ακμής και της παρακμής, της δόξας και της αφάνειας, της Κύπρου και της Βενετίας, της μηχανορραφίας και της ηθικής, της ζωής και του θανάτου. Στοιχεία τα οποία η Χριστίνα Μαρούχου πέρασε στο κοινό της με το βλέμμα, το ανέμισμα του φορέματος της. το τρεμούλιασμα των δακτύλων της τόσο που ήθελα να σηκωθώ στο τέλος και να της πω: “Μην κλαις Κατερίνα, τέλειωσε. Θα είσαι για πάντα η βασίλισσά μας”.”
(“Marouchou lifted the weight of an unconventional monologue, with historical background, without its narrative flow tiring, since she without exaggeration, kept the measure of genuine drama articulation and managed to carry out successfully a difficult task. (…) I realized that this woman was always between the world of mortals and the gods, of prosperity and decline, glory and obscurity, Cyprus and Venice, machinations and morality, life and death. Elements that Christina Marouchou gave her audience with her gaze, the fanning of her dress, her trembling fingers, so much that I wanted to get up at the end and tell her: “Do not cry Caterina, it’s over. You’ll always be our queen.”)
Μιχάλης Χριστοδούλου, Η Καθημερινή
Press here for the full online article.
“… Η αίσθηση ότι παρακολουθούμε ποιοτικό θεατρικό δρώμενο δυνάμωνε συνεχώς. Το σωστό μέτρο και το καλό γούστο ήταν τα κύρια γνωρίσματα της σκηνοθεσίας του Αραούζου και της υποκριτικής συμπεριφοράς της Χριστίνας Μαρούχου. Με εξαίρετη εκφορά λόγου, χωρίς άτοπη δραματικότητα, αλλά με πλήρως ελεγχόμενο συναισθηματισμό, με κίνηση απλή και αβίαστη, που παρά τον περιορισμό διαδρομών δεν εκλαμβανόταν ως μονότονη, η ηθοποιός προίκισε την περσόνα που… παρουσίαζε με κομψότητα και γλυκύτητα. …”
(“… The feeling that we are watching a quality theatrical performance was constantly strengthened. The right measure and good taste were the main traits of the direction of Araouzos and the acting behavior of Christina Marouchou With excellent speech, without undue drama and with a fully controlled sentimentalism, with a simple and effortless movement that despite the limitation of routes was not considered monotonous, the actress bestowed the person she … presented with elegance and sweetness … “)
Νόνα Μολέσκη, Φιλελεύθερος
Full Review for “Caterina; The Last Queen of Cyprus” by Nona Moleski here.
**Update**
In March 2016 we were invited to present the show in Oslo, Norway. The show was hosted at the Literature Center of Oslo and it was such a beautiful experience, with an amazing audience!
Here is a link to the presentation of the event.
But you can get a small glimpse of that wonderful night through the pictures 🙂
