“City Lights” by Charlie Chaplin at the Rex Theatre

A different musical for the whole family is hosted this year at the “Marika Kotopoulis” Stage of the Rex Theatre, a show based on Charlie Chaplin’s unsurpassed masterpiece film “City Lights” (1931). A work-mirror of the rough interwar era that deifies humor, generosity, faith in kindness, dreams, love.

City Lights is a silent film myth, designed and shot by Chaplin when silent films were considered passé, a grand gesture of resistance from a genius artist who, at the height of his career, insists on the genre of the art he loves and is rewarded for his faith in it: the film was a huge commercial and artistic success, and ranks among the best of all time. At the same time, it’s a work of embroidery – the back-to-back takes to achieve the desired effect on shoots that took more than a year to complete were notorious – and proof that “simplicity is by no means a simple thing”, as its creator put it .

The story is set against the backdrop of America’s financial crash and follows Charlie Chaplin, as unemployed drifter Charlo, who falls in love with a blind flower seller and does everything to secure the money for an operation that will give her sight.

In a world irrevocably surrendered to the blind rush of money, Chaplin’s “melancholic clown” resists, whirls, fights, survives, dreams, falls in love, offers.

“A love story and a touching comedy that overcomes language, cultural, age barriers and becomes universal”, is how director Amalia Bennett describes the film, who leads a great troupe of 26 actors, musicians and singers – with Prokopis Agathokleus in the role of Charlo. The original score by Thodoris Oikonomou and the songs performed live on stage by accomplished musicians and singers illuminate the action and set the tone for a show that celebrates the heroism of ordinary people, but also Chaplin’s genius as a writer, director , producer, composer and star of his films.

Amalia Bennett, Nikita Milivojevics and Thodoris Oikonomou wrote the adaptation, Stavros Stavrou wrote the lyrics, Tina Tzoka edited the sets, Angelos Mentis made the costumes, Christina Thanasoulas the lighting, Konstantinos Bokos the sound design. Starring: Prokopis Agathokleus, Alexandra Aidini, Philippos ‘Anthis, Stella Antipa, Thodoris Vrachas, Savvina Giannatou, Nikos Iatrou, Hector Lygizos, Yvonne Maltezou, Grigoria Methenitis, Mario Banousi, Ioanna Bitounis, Costas Bericopoulos, Nikolas Douros, Mikis Pantelous, Protopappas, Chris Radanov, Thanasis Raftopoulos, Mariam Rouhadze, Konstantinos Samaa. Musicians on stage: Dionysis Vervitsiotis (violin), Paraskeas Kitsos (double bass), Io Le Moller (bayan), Thodoris Oikonomou (piano), Dimitris Houndis (saxophone).

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