By Catherine Tsounis
The Theatrical Group of the Primary Education Teachers Arcadia presented the comedy “Lies” or known as “The Lying Kind” by playwright Anthony Neilson at the Malliaropoulios Theatre from June 1 -15, 2017 in Tripoli, Arcadia, Greece. The theatrical group put their hearts into this performance in the mountains of the Peloponnese. The theater was filled with an enthusiastic audience. We were the guests of Professor Spiro and Evangelia Vardouniotis. They perform in different cities, presenting their creative skills. The highlight of our trip to Tripoli is seeing their comedies, fairy tales and serious dramas. Their performances should be on u-tube for the Greek Diaspora to enjoy.
The dark comedy deals with extreme situations involving issues such as death, dementia, misunderstandings and complications showing how kind people who ‘lie” to remain kind. Dr. Alexios Vardouniotis, ENT surgeon, explained on Facebook “Arcadia’s teachers prepared their own “lie” in Malliaropoulio! The Arcadia Teachers’ Theatrical Team, after the end of the “Noah’s Family” performance, that was an enormous success, prepared for the premiere of their new production for adults this time. A few words about the project: Two police officers, “armed” English police, come to tell an elderly couple an unfortunate incident. It’s Christmas Eve and they are reluctant to uncover the unpleasant news. The whole issue requires special handling, but their kindness, the spirit of the days … things start to get confused. And as is often the case in real life, extraneous and improbable factors and events that we cannot predict lead our heroes to a series of terrible misunderstandings with sometimes moving and sometimes hilarious results …”
“Anthony Neilson’s comedy analyzes modern society with extreme precision, that has the audience laughing in unlikely situations,” said Dr. Vardouniotis. “The work is based on repeated misunderstandings that arise between the characters…. Through the laughter, the writer wants to convey the message that “Truth is always better than lie.” This is an explosive comedy, full of surprises and unexpected developments. The project is a structured game where every corner awaits you with a surprise. Through hilarious situations, intrigue and misunderstanding, the deepest truths emerge …”
The performers include: George Kazantzidis; Vasilis Chronopoulos; Yiota Karydis; Bessie Petropoulou-Leivaditi; Spiros Vardouniotis; Panos Iliopoulos; Christina Arvaniti; Anna Zaferopoulou and others. The production and public relations staff are Frose Hatzopoulou, Fani Ziazias, Vasilis Nastos, Melina Hatzopoulou, Takis Roumeliotis, Anna Mpramou, Anna Mpeta, Maria Syriou, Eleni Koutou, Evagelia Marini and Nikos Salapatas. All information was taken from the program.
The Theatrical Group has participated from 2003-2016 in some of the following works: “Youth for a Dime,” As. Gialamas-K. Prenteteris: “Looking for a Liar,” D. Psathas; “The Woman Cardplayer,” D. Psathas; The Seagull Brings Babies,” M. Repas, 2 years; “A Crazy, Crazy 50 Year Old Woman,” A. Sakellarios; “Dust in the Eyes,” E. Lamp is; “The Dream of the Scarecrow” E. Trivia, 2 years; “The Magical Pillows,” E. Trivia; “Odyssevach” X. Kalogeropoulou; and “To Slavia” (The Son of a Slave),” X. Kalogeropoulou.
Special acknowledgement is expressed to The City of Tripoli for their donation of the Malliaropoulios Theatre, Christina Sarantopoulou, Vasili Mpita; EAS REGION Athletics Federation Peloponnese, Acadia 93.8, Arcadiaportal.gr and www.arcadiasports.gr.
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