Immigrants Τhen and Νow. The Synaxary of Andreas Kordopatis by Thanasis Valtinos at the Antonis Antoniou Theatrical Stage

• Published in: Cahiers balkaniques (Paris) Vol. Hors-série
• Main Author: Antoniou, Michaela
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cahiers balkaniques 19-11-2024; Centre d'Études Balkaniques
• Subjects: acting; Antonis Antoniou; directing; early 20th century migration; Thanasis Valtinos; theatre; mise en scène; υποκριτική; θέατρο; Thanasis Valtinos; theatre; migration du début du xxe siècle; σκηνοθεσία; Antonis Antoniou; interprétation; Θανάσης Βαλτινός; directing; early 20th century migration; théâtre; Αντώνης Αντωνίου; μετανάστευση αρχές 20ού αιώνα; acting
• ISSN: 0290-7402; 2261-4184
• DOI: 10.4000/12l9u

The Synaxary of Andreas Kordopatis by Thanasis Valtinos was published serially in the magazine Tahydromos in 1964 and was first published in 1978 by Kedros Publications. In the first of two books about Kordopatis, subtitled America, Valtinos recounts the adventures of Andreas Kordopatis, a real person, from Dara, Mantinea, and his repeated attempts to emigrate to the United States in search of a better life. Antonis Antoniou, fascinated by the text since its first publication, decided to adapt it for the stage in the winter of 2011. This choice is, of course, not an accidental one. The actor and director sees the relevance of the two eras and considers Valtinos’ play to be timely at a time when another wave of immigrants is flowing out of Greece during the economic crisis of the 21st century. The article briefly introduces this particular play by Valtinos, examines Antoniou’s selection of excerpts and analyses the stage presentation of the text and the performance. Most importantly, it identifies and highlights the parallel trajectories of the migrant in the era of Kordopatis, the era of the writing of the text, and the era of the performance, attempting to trace differences and similarities, but ultimately the essence of the driving force of migration. Important aspects of the paper are the success of the production, but also the monologue as both a genre, aiming, among other things, at introspection, and as a practical choice in a period of economic crisis.