tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3352567443305047342.post210355145699409259..comments2023-08-08T12:03:41.378-04:00Comments on The Frosina Information Network Blog: Fifth Annual International Monodrama Festival "Alabamono 2010"Van Christohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00811139330141866182noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3352567443305047342.post-66691830363196039512010-10-12T20:13:32.520-04:002010-10-12T20:13:32.520-04:00These are good questions, and I'm glad you ask...These are good questions, and I'm glad you asked. Essentially, there were (2-3) monologues daily performed during the week that I was in Albania. The plays were performed in the actors' own language. Thus, it was necessary before each performance to have a brief summary of the monologue translated in English, so I could understand it. This isn't to say that all judges knew English fluently or that judges knew the<br />languages of all the other Balkan countries represented. However, it was felt that we could determine quality of acting and artistic interpretation of the monodramas.<br />Allow me to describe a few of the plays and the artists in them. Mirjana Vukojcic from Serbia, split the best female actor award with Joanna Popouska, from Macedonia. Vukojcic was good enough to give me her entire script in English. I read it until 2:00 a.m. the night before her performance, and it brought tears to my eyes. The story was true and based on a Serbian woman who "survived" being sent to an island off of Serbia by Tito. There was an entire colony of (Serbian) women (men too) who had been sent there and tortured during Tito's reign and by Serbians. The play was based on a famous book (I was told) by a Serbian writer. While I don't have his name now, I'm sure someone familiar with Serbian literature does. It was<br />one of the most gripping stories I have read.<br />Plays varied in content and perhaps this was indicative, too, of the variety of Balkan countries represented. For example, another monologue was<br />"The Silver Wedding." During this performance the audience was part of the play and we indulged in champagne and other niceties-so that we felt we were<br />part of the performance. However, the plot was a reflective piece about why the marriage failed and the character's life. In another play, a young actor<br />in his twenties performed in Diary of a Madman. He actually used a real razor and cut himself in several places for dramatic effect. Needless to say<br />this was quite powerful as he stood there in his shorts with blood, etc. The props were amazing. Best male actor went to Elmir Sejfullai (Tetovo) for<br />his monodrama of life by Josip Pejakovic.<br />The last night of the Festival, Dhimiter Orgocha(who started the Festival)performed and he brought the house down. Orgocha did a monologue on depicting a Blood Freud within an Albanian family.<br /><br />I was invited to be a juror at the festival for a few reasons. My cousin, Angelo Kondili (Coordinator of International Guests and Technology) has been<br />greatly involved in the festival with Dhimiter Orgocka for five years. Angelo (who's an engineer and has technical expertise, is fluent in numerous<br />languages, English being only one of them). We have grown closer given the internet. He knew that I was a published writer of multicultural literature<br />and a consultant. Since I had traveled and lived abroad, he offered me this unique opportunity. Also, it was my understanding that the organizers of the festival would like to see it grow in popularity and become more international. Since my family was from Korce and I live in the U.S.A., it was how you say, "a good match."Barbara Tzetzo Goschnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3352567443305047342.post-83702782965393206352010-10-07T17:47:07.491-04:002010-10-07T17:47:07.491-04:00That was most intersting, Barbara, and you have an...That was most intersting, Barbara, and you have an easy and readable writing style. Put, please, tell us more about the Festival itself! For example, for WHAT did you serve as a juror? What were the various subjects, topics, scripts, etc. being judged? How did you get selected as a juror? etc, etc...<br /><br />More details, pul-eeze!?Van Christohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00811139330141866182noreply@blogger.com