George Ciprian
Encyclopedia
George Ciprian was a Romania
n actor and playwright. His writings make him a precursor of the Theatre of the Absurd
.
to a Greek
baker's family, he attended primary school in Glodeanu-Siliştea
, a commune near Buzău, after which moved to Bucharest
with his mother. There, he attended Gheorghe Lazăr High School, together with Vasile Voiculescu
, a future poet who had been born near Buzău, and Urmuz
, an absurdist
writer.
After graduation, Ciprian went on to study acting at the Bucharest Conservatory
, where he was coached by Constantin Nottara.
His stage debut took place in 1907 at the Craiova
National Theatre, as Şoltuz in Bogdan Petriceicu Hasdeu
's Răzvan şi Vidra. He would star in a multitude of theater performances in theatres throughout Romania, as well as acting in several movies.
Ciprian died in Bucharest. The only theatre in his native city, Buzău, bears his name — was inaugurated in 1996 with a representation of Omul cu mârţoaga.
Late in his life, he authored an autobiography, Măscărici şi Mâzgălici (translatable as "Jester and Scribbler"), which notably contains versions of several texts by Urmuz (as memorized by Ciprian), as well as details on the latter's final years.
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n actor and playwright. His writings make him a precursor of the Theatre of the Absurd
Theatre of the Absurd
The Theatre of the Absurd is a designation for particular plays of absurdist fiction, written by a number of primarily European playwrights in the late 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s, as well as to the style of theatre which has evolved from their work...
.
Biography
Born in BuzăuBuzau
The city of Buzău is the county seat of Buzău County, Romania, in the historical region of Wallachia. It lies near the right bank of the Buzău River, between the south-eastern curvature of the Carpathian Mountains and the lowlands of Bărăgan Plain.The city's name dates back to 376 AD when the name...
to a Greek
Greeks in Romania
There has been a Greek presence in Romania for at least 27 centuries. At times, as during the Phanariote era, this presence has amounted to hegemony; at other times , the Greeks have simply been one among the many ethnic minorities in Romania.-Ancient and Medieval Period:The Greek presence in what...
baker's family, he attended primary school in Glodeanu-Siliştea
Glodeanu-Silistea
Glodeanu-Siliştea is a commune located in the southern part of Buzău County, Romania, in the Bărăgan Plain. It is composed of eight villages: Casota, Cârligu Mare, Cârligu Mic, Corbu, Cotorca, Glodeanu-Siliştea, Satu Nou and Văcăreasca.-Location:...
, a commune near Buzău, after which moved to Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
with his mother. There, he attended Gheorghe Lazăr High School, together with Vasile Voiculescu
Vasile Voiculescu
Vasile Voiculescu was a Romanian poet, short-story writer, playwright, and physician.-Early life and education:Voiculescu was born in Pârscov, Buzău County, Romania, to a family of wealthy peasants. He attended primary school in Pleşcoi, a village near his home, for a year, after which he was sent...
, a future poet who had been born near Buzău, and Urmuz
Urmuz
Urmuz was a Romanian writer, lawyer and civil servant, who became a cult hero in Romania's avant-garde scene. His scattered work, consisting of absurdist short prose and poetry, opened a new genre in Romanian letters and humor, and captured the imagination of modernists for several generations...
, an absurdist
Absurdism
In philosophy, "The Absurd" refers to the conflict between the human tendency to seek value and meaning in life and the human inability to find any...
writer.
After graduation, Ciprian went on to study acting at the Bucharest Conservatory
National University of Music Bucharest
The National University of Music Bucharest is a university-level school of music located in Bucharest, Romania. Established as a school of music in 1863 and reorganized as an academy in 1931, it has functioned as a public university since 2001...
, where he was coached by Constantin Nottara.
His stage debut took place in 1907 at the Craiova
Craiova
Craiova , Romania's 6th largest city and capital of Dolj County, is situated near the east bank of the river Jiu in central Oltenia. It is a longstanding political center, and is located at approximately equal distances from the Southern Carpathians and the River Danube . Craiova is the chief...
National Theatre, as Şoltuz in Bogdan Petriceicu Hasdeu
Bogdan Petriceicu Hasdeu
Bogdan Petriceicu Hasdeu was a Romanian writer and philologist, who pioneered many branches of Romanian philology and history. Hasdeu is considered to have been able to understand 26 languages .-Life:...
's Răzvan şi Vidra. He would star in a multitude of theater performances in theatres throughout Romania, as well as acting in several movies.
Ciprian died in Bucharest. The only theatre in his native city, Buzău, bears his name — was inaugurated in 1996 with a representation of Omul cu mârţoaga.
Author
His first play, Omul cu mârţoaga (The Man and His Old Crock) had its premiere in 1927, and became very successful. His best known play is Capul de răţoi (The Drake's Head), written in 1938, and acknowledged as an early example of absurdist theatre, which draws on his adolescence and friendship with Urmuz.Late in his life, he authored an autobiography, Măscărici şi Mâzgălici (translatable as "Jester and Scribbler"), which notably contains versions of several texts by Urmuz (as memorized by Ciprian), as well as details on the latter's final years.
Works
- Omul cu mârţoaga (The Man and His Old Crock), 1927
- Nae Niculae, 1928
- Capul de răţoi (The Drake's Head), 1938
- Ioachim - prietenul poporului (Ioachim - Friend of the People), 1947
- Un lup mâncat de oaie (A Wolf Eaten by a Sheep), 1947