Romanians have relived the horrors of communism in a play featuring Lenin and Stalin, set to patriotic songs of that era, played by actors who mime their roles.
But as spectators watched the hour-long performance in a Bucharest park, it was also a reminder for some that not everything was bad under communism, which ended in a bloody revolt in 1989.
“Lenin’s Arc” is a visual feast of non-speaking actors dressed in uniforms, waving hammers, sickles and red flags — their faces and clothes daubed with copper, green and brown paint. The play opened on May 2 and its first three performances have been staged in Bucharest parks. It will continue to be performed in parks across Romania during the summer.
The play’s director said the show highlighted the harshness of communism, but Romanians would also remember some positive aspects of communism.
“In those days everyone had a job. In those days we had industry. Now we have none. In those days we had agriculture. Now we have none,” Mihai Malaimare told The Associated Press. “We had dignity. Now we are the slaves of Europe.”
He said Romania had sacrificed its “dignity” because “we wanted to be part of Europe, NATO.” Romania joined NATO in 2004 and became a member of the European Union in 2007.
His comments were partly echoed by police officer Constantin Cojocariu, 53.
“Some things are good now, but getting a job can be a big problem,” Cojocariu said. “My son is out of work and all the work contracts are short now.”
Cosmin Cretu, 48, who played the main role of Lenin, however, was critical of the communist era, recalling the cold, hunger and fear which predominated as Romania struggled under Communist leader Nicolae Ceausescu’s policy to pay off the foreign debt.
Cojocariu, who watched the play with his wife, noted Romanians were freer than under communism, when the Securitate secret police kept tabs on ordinary people to repress political dissent.
“Before, all the phones were listened to,” Cojocariu said. “Now only the trees hear you.”
In this May 22, 2016, picture a banner advertising the Lenin’s Arc performance by the Masca Theatre is back dropped by a cloudy sky in Bucharest, Romania. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
In this May 22, 2016, picture a theatre employee carries the poster advertising the Lenin’s Arc performance by the Masca Theatre in Bucharest, Romania. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
In this May 22, 2016, picture Anamaria Pislaru, who plays the Cominternist character in Lenin’s Arc performance by the Masca Theatre works on her make up before the show in Bucharest, Romania. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
In this May 22, 2016, picture Cosmin Cretu who plays Lenin in Lenin’s Arc performance by the Masca Theatre checks a mobile phone before the show in Bucharest, Romania. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
In this May 22, 2016, picture Cosmin Cretu who plays Lenin in Lenin’s Arc performance by the Masca Theatre waits before the show in Bucharest, Romania. Romanians relive the horrors of communism in a play featuring Lenin and Stalin, set to patriotic songs of that era, played by actors who mime their roles, the hour-long performance in a Bucharest park, also being a reminder for some that not everything was bad under communism.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
In this May 22, 2016, picture Cosmin Cretu, left, who plays Lenin in Lenin’s Arc performance by the Masca Theatre walks next to Sorin Dinculescu, playing Stalin, during the show in Bucharest, Romania. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
In this May 22, 2016, picture Dora Iftode, playing the Intellectual character points to Cosmin Cretu, center, who plays Lenin in Lenin’s Arc performance by the Masca Theatre in Bucharest, Romania. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
In this May 22, 2016, people watch a performance by the Masca Theatre about the horrors of communism in a play featuring Lenin and Stalin, in Bucharest, Romania. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
In this May 22, 2016, picture actors perform in Lenin’s Arc play, staged by the Masca Theatre in Bucharest, Romania. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
In this May 22, 2016, picture actors perform in Lenin’s Arc play by the Masca Theatre in Bucharest, Romania. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
In this May 22, 2016, picture a child from the audience reaches to Cosmin Cretu who plays Lenin in Lenin’s Arc performance by the Masca Theatre in Bucharest, Romania. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
In this May 22, 2016, children take pictures of the Lenin’s Arc performance by the Masca Theatre in Bucharest, Romania. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
In this May 22, 2016, picture actors Florentina Panait, right, and Madalin Mladinovici, left, mimicking the hammer and sickle emblem perform in Lenin’s Arc play, staged by the Masca Theatre in Bucharest, Romania. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
In this May 22, 2016, picture actors perform in Lenin’s Arc play, staged by the Masca Theatre in Bucharest, Romania. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
In this May 22, 2016, picture actors Cosmin Cretu, left, who plays Lenin, Ioana Rufu, center left, Alex Floroiu, center right, playing communist pioneers and Sorin Dinculescu, playing Stalin stand on a podium during the Lenin’s Arc performance by the Masca Theatre in Bucharest, Romania. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
In this May 22, 2016, picture Cosmin Cretu, center, who plays Lenin in Lenin’s Arc performance by the Masca Theatre bows at the end of the show in Bucharest, Romania. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
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