The Tenderness

The Tenderness
  • by Alfredo Sanzol
  • Translation: Ioana Anghel
  • Directed by: Florin Caracala
  • Set Design: Ana Ienașcu
  • Sound Design: Andrei Chivu
Premiera: 15 May 2025
Duration: 1h 30min, no intermission
14

Tenderness, or When Misandrists Meet Misogynists

Tenderness is a romantic comedy that tells the story of a queen initiated into the secrets of magic and her two daughters, who plan to live on a deserted island and never see another man for the rest of their lives. The problem is that the island they choose is already inhabited by three woodcutters - a father and his two sons - who have isolated themselves from the world precisely to avoid ever encountering women again. Echoes of Shakespearean works resonate in every scene, culminating in a manifestation of magic even more absurd than the one in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The battle of the sexes fails spectacularly, giving way to the most obvious and universal human truth: Love conquers all.

Alfredo Sanzol’s play - bringing together men and women who conceptually despise each other in a magical setting - is, beyond its inherent comedy, a rich premise for debating contemporary identity dilemmas. The fairy-tale structure allows for multiple layers of interpretation. Another key theme of the performance is how we educate our children. The lingering question: does it serve any purpose, any benefit, to burden them with all our frustrations and prejudices about the opposite sex? Are we preparing them for life, or merely conditioning them for misery and alienation?

Cast