Paul I. Prodan și teatrul conduitelor sociale

Résumé

Paul I. Prodan and the Theatre of Social Behavior
Under the influence of modernism, Paul I. Prodan, known at the time as “le beau Paul”, explored in his dramatic work the issues of identity, family relationships, social norms and limitations, the inertia of traditional values. Thus, defining himself as an adept of melodrama, the author sought to shed light on the ambiguous nature of feelings and the tension arising from the relationship between social (or family) obligations and personal aspirations. In his first play, Family tree (“Viță de neam”, 1914), Prodan wanted to bring to the stage the conflict between the characters’ need to escape from the tutelage of family values and the harshness of social norms, and in "Symphony Concert" (“Concert simfonic”, 1924) he satirized the thinking of the bourgeoisie devoid of the depths of the soul and mind. In his next plays, "Love" (“Iubire”, 1922),Blood Brothers(“Frați de cruce”, 1929) and Artists’ Household (“Menaj de artiști”, 1929), he continued to explore interpersonal relationships, conflicting relationships between generations, the opposition between tradition and modernity. In his plays, psychological introspection is weak, supported only by a valid, at times, critique of morals. If he had not pursued “only to please” – as G. Călinescu said – his plays could have shed light on human fragility and developed dramatically on the level of plays with social issues. Unfortunately, lacking real dramatic complexity, Prodan’s dramatic creation remained in the shadow of a century in which local creation had difficulty finding its specificity. On the other hand, the author›s activity as a columnist is noteworthy, reflecting the interwar theatrical and cultural life, with a constant concern for the educational role of theater and for the mission of the stage to ennoble the effort of cultural affirmation of a nation. In this sense, Prodan represents a representative figure of the interwar Romanian theater, capable of awakening interest even today through the finesse of his interpretations and a modern sensitivity.