By Michael Dove, Mad Forest Director

For a play like Mad Forest, we've had to really immerse ourselves with the culture and historical details of 1989 Romania and the events that led to the Revolution and the aftermath of those few days that changed the whole country (though the debate of what changed very much fuels this play). 

The fact that this was not an easily-simplified event is, in part, what led Caryl Churchill (and director Mark Wing-Davey) to developing this script and what drew Forum and myself to the play. It is not a story that can be parsed into "who was against who and for what" terms. Add to that the extreme difference of Communist Romania of the 80's to the United States then and today. 

With the help of Dan Istrate, who grew up in Romania in the time of this play, we started our rehearsal process with as much information as possible so that everyone had a grounding in this unique period in history.

Before we begin performances and you come to see the show, I wanted to share some of the resources we are using to prepare that I think you'll find interesting.

4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days (4 luni, 3 saptamâni si 2 zile)

This movie, made in 2007, depicts a woman who helps her university roommate arrange an illegal abortion in 1987 Romania (the Ceaușescu outlawed abortions). This policy makes its way into Mad Forest's storyline as well as many other social aspects of the time period that the movie shows.

I think it's a really amazing film and you can watch it on Netflix streaming. Really worth checking out.

Romania's Revolution of 1989: An Enduring Enigma

This NYtimes article gives as exhaustive as an account of the events surrounding the Revolution in December of 1989.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Medical Care in Romania Comes at an Extra Cost

Another NYTimes article. This one talks about the enduring legacy of the culture of bribery and corruption within the medical community during Communist Romania that still affects citizens, today.