Monodrama dedicated to Mother Teresa staged in Pogradec

An evening full of emotion and art was enjoyed at the “Lasgush Poradeci” performance hall in Pogradec, where the monodrama “And’rra e Nan’ Terezës – Njerëzorja Hyjnore” (Mother Teresa’s Dream – The Divine Humane) took to the stage, an artistic tribute to the great figure of Mother Teresa.

The performance by actress Justina Aliaj and the direction of Gëzim Kame offered the audience a heartfelt account of the humanity, love and devotion that this extraordinary figure symbolises. The director, Gëzim Kame, said that this monodrama called for a great actress, carrying a text that would otherwise belong to a play with 20 actors. He added that not every actor could cope with it.

“Monodramas are very difficult because you are dealing with just one actor and a text that, in another production, might be shared among 20 actors. This is my second such experience, after Socrates’ Apology with Mirush Kabashi, and my second production with Justina Aliaj.

I am working with truly great actors. Not every actor can handle a monodrama, all the more so this kind of philosophical monodrama. I take great pleasure in the fact that Justina, with her extraordinary passion, managed in a short time to build a monodrama and to portray one of the greatest figures in the world, Mother Teresa.

When Mother Teresa is played by a single actress who conveys the great philosophy that she embodied, you can feel the audience’s deep respect for this figure – that, at least, is what I feel during the performance”, he said.

Through acting and music, the production brought to the stage not only the life of Mother Teresa but also her profound philosophy of love for people and service to the weakest. The monodrama is one of the most challenging forms of theatre, as the whole weight of the story rests on a single actor.

“It is extremely difficult, and I always say it is a great responsibility. Because in a monodrama you are alone; you have no help at all, only imaginary characters that you try to bring to life. At the same time, it is the greatest and most honourable role for me. Perhaps not everyone recognises themselves in all three of Mother Teresa’s precepts, but they certainly do in one of them.

My mouth goes dry, though I don’t let it show; I try to speak as if nothing is wrong, but I am under extraordinary tension from beginning to end”, said the actress Justina Aliaj.

The performance was warmly received by the Pogradec audience and by the Ambassador of India in Tirana, making for an evening of reflection and emotion. It was an artistic tribute recalling that the figure of Mother Teresa remains one of the greatest sources of pride for Albanians and an enduring symbol of humanity throughout the world. A.K./TemA