image

Press Releases

Madame Soussou (26/01/2012)



National Theatre of Northern Greece presents Dimitris Psathas’ “Madame Soussou”, stage directed by Giorgos Armenis. Psathas comedy will be hosted in Vassiliko Theatre with Fotini Baxevani playing the leading part.
Panagiotakis: Kostas Santas.
Opening: Friday, February 10, 2012

Psathas’ only unpublished theatrical piece, written in 1942 and presented for the first time with Mrs. Katerina – Katerina Andreadi – (Soussou), Aimilios Veakis (Panayiotakis), and Spyros Mousouris (Kantakouzinos) enjoyed unexpected popularity during the years of the German-Italian Occupation.

Over the years, Soussou has been played by Mary Aroni (1946- theatre), Anna Panagiotopoulou (1998 -theatre), Marika Nezer (1948 -movie), Georgia Vassiliadou (1950- radio), Anna Paizi (1972 – television), Anna Panagiotopoulou (1983 – television). Apart from Emilios Veakis, the role of Panagiotakis has been performed by Kostas Raftopoulos (1946), Vassilis Logothetidis (1948), Iakovos Psarras (1972), Thanassis Papageorgiou (1982), and Stavros Paravas (1998).

“Madame Soussou” was introduced to the audience by Dimitris Psathas as a comedy story which was published in series in the weekly magazine “Thisavros” (1939-1941) with original title “The Life and Story of Madame Soussou”. It was received with utmost success and was later published in a book (1941) that included all independent stories seen in the magazine. The play followed a year after, the movie, which unfortunately is not available today, followed in 1948, and in the beginning of the fifties “Madame Soussou” is presented in the radio with Georgia Vassiliadou. Finally, Psathas writes the television series (1972 and 1986), to enjoy another great success.


STORY
Vouthoulas and Kolonaki! The story shows the nouveau riche opposite to the hard landing to the poverty of Greek reality, the decadence and the illusion of having many assets and living rich opposite the many madams “Soussou” that surrounds us. Given through the writing of Dimitris Psathas, all the above conclude to an apt comedy that seems more current than ever before.

A Note from the Director
It was a sunny day. Thessaloniki was smiling to me, a city full of light and as a little girl that is wearing white socks and her black Sunday shoes she decided to let her laptop rest and play hopscotch, hide and seek, and round-round all. Such beauty… Such kindness, such grace in gesture and pride – simple childhood innocence.

I was off to meet Sotiris, my friend, director of the National Theatre. He was having his coffee with Ersi Drini at “Romios”. I sat with them, after exchanging the famous three kisses with Sotiris and having Ersi falling in my arms a million times.
- So, George, are you going to work at a play by Psathas?
- Which one? I asked
- “Madame Soussou”
- No, I don’t really care for it
- Have you read it?
- No
- Have a look at it then, and we’ll talk again

And here I am, the day after, in his office discussing “Madame Soussou” and all others like her that exist today, used in portraying themselves through their status, underestimating others, persuaded that they belong to the upper class, and sneering at anything deriving from elsewhere.

How silly, how folly can it be for one to deny his class, his true origin, his customs, his people, what an infinite silliness… To spend ourselves for a non lasting power, in fake positions presented to us in fairy dust and as if we were monkeys, to jump up and down in the Persian carpets of our living rooms, playing with moral values, history, and culture. By then, I had already agreed.

I have agreed to do the play of our great comedy writer Dimitris Psathas, because he was talented enough to feel the threat over the modern Greek citizen of today, his tendency to indulge in anything fake, at a time when our country was just recovering from a fascist war, a civil war, the Americans and their Marshall plan, UNRA, that filled the province with colorful underwear, powder milk, and salty peanut butter.

A lot said, but I’m fed up with all things fake and pretentious, with the way we do things – by the way, and with our vanity.

Let’s allow that little girl in the white socks and black Sunday shoes to play carefree in the sunlight and let’s bow, promising that we will protect this beautiful picture.

I would like to express my gratitude to the Director and the Board of the National Theatre of Northern Greece, assistant director Aggeliki Kitrini, choreographer Alexandra Tsotanidou, my fellow actors and actresses, all technicians and everyone that worked for this play. Above all, I would like to thank Fotini Baxevani, Kostas Santas, Vassilis Eftaxopoulos, Dimitris Siakaras, and Marianna Papasavva.

Finally, I would like to thank Yannis Metzikof and Yorgos Christianakis, the famous musician of our Country.

Enjoy!

Kind Regards,

Yorgos Armenis


“Madame Soussou” is presented in Vassiliko Theatre from Friday, February 10, 2012 to Palm Sunday. Immediately after that the play will be transferred at the Theatre of The Cultural Centre “Ellinikos Kosmos” for a limited time only.

Contributors
Playwright: Dimitris Psathas
Director: Yorgos Armenis
Scenery -Costumes: Yannis Metzikof
Music: Yorgos Christianakis
Choreography: Alexandra Tsotanidou
Lights: Tassos Dailidis
Assistant Director: Aggeliki Kitrini
Production Manager: Ilias Kotopoulos

Cast
Katerina Georgoussi (maid), Vassilis Eftaxopoulos (Minas Kantakouzinos), Pantelis Kalpakoglou (Cook), Dimitris Kartokis (Kokos, Archeologist, George, Postman), Efstathia Lialiou (Alepoudi), Lefteris Litharis (Chauffer, Archeologist), Katerina Likou (Zafiriou), Fotini Baxevani (Madame Soussou), Chris Papadimitriou (Archeologist, Alex, John), Marianna Papassavva (Kitsomitrou), Kostas Santas (Panagiotakis), Dimitris Siakaras (Leo), Thalia Skarlatou (Kira Katina), Stergios Tzaferis (Teo), Chrysa Tsoumanidou (Sofoula), Kostas Chatzissavvas (Stathopoulos).

The following students of the National Theatre’s Drama School are also participating:
Dimitra Vitta, Maria-Elissavet Kotini, Herodotos Miltiadous, Christina Rapti, Tassos Rodovitis, Dimitra Tsismalidou.

DAYS:
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
Wednesday & Sunday at 19.00 hours
Thursday & Friday at 21.00 hours
Saturday at 18.00 & 21.00 hours

Tickets:
Friday 21.00, Saturday 21.00 & Sunday 19.00
• Stalls -Regular: 20€ , Discount ticket: 15 €, Group: 13€
• Circle - Regular: 15€ , Discount ticket: 12 €

Wednesday 19.00, Thursday 21.00 & Saturday 18.00 (Discount Performances)
• Regular: 15€, Discount ticket: 12 €
• Circle - Regular: 12 €, Discount ticket: 10 €
OEE and OGA discount tickets are available

For all discount performances tickets for 5euros are available to those unemployed and all immigrants

Advance sales:
Box office and Webpage of NTNG
Concert Hall Box office at Aristotelous street
“Public” stores, www.public.gr

Ticket office hours
Vassiliko Theatre (White Tower sq.): Tuesday to Sunday 9:30 a.m. -9.30 p.m.
Society of Macedonian Studies (2 Ethnikis Aminis str.): Tuesday to Sunday: 9.30 a.m..-1.30 p.mμ. & 5.30 p.m.-9.30 p.m.
Lazaristes Monastery (25-27 Kolokotroni str. , Stavroupoli): Tuesday to Sunday: 9.30 a.m.-1.30 p.m. & 5.30 p.m.-9.30 p.m.
Concert Hall Box Office at Aristotelous street (advance booking only): Monday, Wednesday, Saturday: 10:00 a.m.–3.30 p.m., Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.. & 5.30 p.m.–8:00 p.m.

Reservations: 2315 200200



Sponsored by
ert ert3 pontiki  λlogo protagon naftemporiki  CLICKATLIFE  erotikos

Supported by
tv100_60fm100_60 makedoniatv os3  zithos  dore

Translated by Konstantina Vika

Return