The Foundation of Greater Hellenism presents the play “The Secret of the Countess Valeriana” by Grigorio Xenopoulos, at the “THEATER” of the Cultural Center “Hellenic World” from December 20.

The direction of the classic Greek work, which is considered the masterpiece of Grigorio Xenopoulos, is signed by Petros Zoulias and the role of Countess Valeriana is played by the distinguished actress Nena Mendi.

THE Maria Kanellopoulou plays the role of the housekeeper, Nikos Nikas son Conte Valeris, while Vasiliki Troufakou she plays the role of the young bride. With them, the actors: Dimitris Kapetanakos, Dimitris Arianoutsos, Marianna Toundasaki, Giorgos Loxas, Fai Fragkalioti, Anna-Maria Katsoulaki.

A note from the production states that the play takes place in Zakynthos and is the theatrical adaptation of a short theatrical story with the same title.

In the once noble family of the Valeridas, only the old Valeriaina knows the recipe that cures an eye disease. He has sworn that he will keep it a secret and will provide the drug for free, to anyone who needs it. Only from Valeria to Valeria can the medicine be inherited, the tradition of which lasts over two hundred and fifty years and in order to take effect it must be given before Valeria dies.

THE poverty but he comes to shake the family and test the attitude of the heroes towards money and moral values. Valeria receives heaps of tempting offers to sell the secret. An internal struggle between necessity and moral debt begins, with medicine being the cause of the heroes’ conflict and Xenopoulos providing a genius solution.

The attitude of the heroes towards moral ideals is the central axis of the Zakynthian urban drama, full of suspense and twists.

In difficult times, the value of honor and dignity collides with need and money. The decision of Countess Valeriana is decisive for the future of the Valerida family. The issue that Xenopoulos raises in his work remains relevant, with the virtue of dignity on the one hand and the corruption of money on the other being at the center of the work.

The author himself has characterized “The Secret of the Countess Valeriana” as “the best work of his life”. Great actresses of the Greek theater, such as Evangelia Paraskevopoulou, Marika Kotopouli, Kyveli and Anna Synodinou have performed the leading role and the play has been a huge success.

“…I conceived The Secret of the Countess Valeriana young, wrote it as a man, rewrote it halfway through, finished it almost old. It is my life’s work.
What I like above all about it is the gentleness and originality of the fable, – I have never found a similar theme, neither in our Philology, nor in foreign theater could one easily find something similar – and the rigor, the symmetry of the dramatic form. It is something deeply Zakynthian, but at the same time deeply Greek. And I was able to tighten it up, put it all into one big act, divided simply and naturally into three small parts, because the drama begins in the morning, always in the same place, ends in the evening. What we call “scenic economy” does not seem more perfect in any of my works; and one can only pay attention to the entrances and exits of the faces on the stage, which is not only for beginners…

Then there is not a single word in addition, that is not absolutely necessary in the development of the myth, in the progress of the drama and at the same time in the characterization of the persons. All this without unnecessary embellishment, without any theatrical trick. “With the least dramatic means”, observes a critic…” Grigorios Xenopoulos, From the Prologue of 1918

SHOW DAYS & TIMES:

– Start of performances: December 20
– Start time: 21:00

“THEATER”

“Hellenic World” Cultural Center
254 Piraeus, Tavros, 177 78
T. 212 254 0300
www.theatron254.gr

Free parking is available