Radu Gheorghe, the promoter of stand-up comedy shows in Romania, offered us, exclusively for Playtech News, a tasty interview. The artist spoke to us, bittersweet, about the state of Romanian comedy, about the reason for the absence of his name from movie posters, but also about his daughter, Stanca Radu. On this occasion, he also pays tribute to the late Stela Popescu, the mother of his ex-wife, Doina Maximilian.
Why Radu Gheorghe no longer acts in films: “The roles offered, most of the time, did not suit me!”
Radu Gheorghe explained to us why his name no longer appears on movie posters and why directors increasingly choose to cast the influencers of the moment in their films.
Why are you no longer appearing on movie posters in recent years? Why was the place of great actors taken by controversial characters, from showbiz, or by influencers, with great success on Instagram and TikTok? Have you been invited to castings before? What other roles have you been offered?
Regarding the posters, it’s simple! I have not acted in any film produced in recent years! As a result, they don’t even appear on posters! The castings I was invited to were not relevant! The roles offered, most of the time, did not suit me!
As for the great actors, if we are referring to the same names, I think they have aged and their place has been taken by younger ones! A normal, generational process.
I can’t comment on the quality of young artists! However, I am sure that many are talented, but are forced for various reasons to prostitute themselves (artistically speaking).
After all, when you curse, you are aware that you cursed! You can’t blame society! It’s your responsibility! I think it’s a wave, a fashion, to collapse into vulgarity and nothingness! Will pass!
What does it say about the dull humor of Mihai Bobonete
As a promoter of stand-up comedy shows in Romania, Radu also spoke to us about the new generation of actors who entertain the public. Here’s what he says about Dan Badea, Cătălin Bordea, Sorin Pârcălab, but also about Mihai Bobonete, many of whom also have more obscure songs in their program.
You are, in fact, a one man show, a master of improvisation, among the first stand-up comedy actors. What do you think about the artists who entertain the public now, such as Dan Badea, Cătălin Bordea, Sorin Pârcălab? Many spectators complained about their vulgar language, including at Mihai Bobonete’s show, at Sala Palatului.
I don’t know if I’m really a master, but it’s clear that I like to improvise and I feel at ease when I meet a cooperative audience! Many of my shows are interactive, and the audience’s reaction is part of the script!
The most correct formula, regarding the introduction of stand-up comedy in Romania, is that I am certainly one of the promoters, supporters and educators of this type of entertainment in our country. I am cautious about judging my colleagues in comedy!
Each of them is responsible for his own speech, monologue, and luckily, he gets the audience’s reaction right away! If some gentlemen or ladies feel embarrassed by the sometimes too…casual language, it’s because maybe they don’t know that this type of show is dedicated to adults and has as its first goal the unveiling of the truth, often shamelessly, from our private lives!
Of course, you can do stand-up comedy without vulgar words, but it’s much more difficult and you need more…book! And then, between us, if you go into a brothel, what can you expect, meet big girls? Each of the nominees has created his own audience and it seems that they are happy together! That’s what I want for them too!
What is the state of Romanian humor? Do Romanians still laugh, do they still have this power, to make fun of trouble, like in the past?
Unfortunately, I see less and less people laughing! Many sit with their eyes fixed on their mobile phone and constantly navigate in a world that does not belong to them and often they do not even want it, and if they want it, they cannot afford it.
At a stand-up show, in which I participated, as a spectator, one of the improvisers got angry at the mostly female audience and shouted: “Girls, laugh at the jokes too, not only at trivia!”.
He returns to the stage, with his successful show “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice”
The actor is preparing to return to the stage, at the National Operetta Theatre, in Bucharest, with “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice”, a show often played behind closed doors.
What shows do you invite your fans to? What plays are you currently acting in and what new projects are you preparing?
The show to which I invite all those who like musical entertainment is THE WITCH’S APPRENTICE, from the National Operetta and Musical Theater “Ion Dacian”, in which I have the role of conductor of the theater’s orchestra and choir and which will also be scheduled in this season, as soon as possible! I am also preparing news, they are on the pipeline, as they say, you will find out about them in due time! Comedies, of course!
Stanca Radu, the actor’s daughter, lives in Germany. What job does he have?
Radu Gheorghe spoke with emotion about his daughter, Stanca Radu, but also about the late Stela Popescu, the mother of his ex-wife, whose artistic talent he appreciated.
Your daughter, Stanca, inherited her passion for the stage, both from you and from her famous grandmother, Stela Popescu. Tell us about Stanca, but also about your friendship with Stela Popescu. Her departure left a great void in the magazine theater area…
My daughter Stanca Radu lives in Germany and is a film director. He inherited, both from me and from my ex-wife, Doina Maximilian, the talent to approach and understand people, projecting their own lives in front of them, through cinematographic art.
Her delicacy and innocence make her see and be able to reproduce, through images, things and feelings that we do not see and sometimes do not feel. He had somewhere to learn and be inspired!
Stela Popescu was undeniably the model that she and I followed, to the same extent! Not! Stela Popescu did not leave a big gap! He left a big full! Let us rejoice that we were fortunate to have such a personality, of such beauty, physical, moral and spiritual, with an unbeatable labor force and who burned and shone like a genuine star!
His opinion about the series “Las Fierbinți” (PRO TV): “I watch a movie to have fun, not to criticize”
Asked by Playtech News reporters what he thinks about the series “Las Fierbinți”, from PRO TV, the actor answered us diplomatically. He believes that actors should not be judged too quickly, because talent can emerge even after ten years of activity.
Do you watch the series “Las Fierbinți”, from Pro TV, or the show “iUmor”, from Antena 1? Which humorous group is more in your heart, here I mean Vacanța Mare, Divertis and Vouă.
As I know myself, I am a good viewer! I mean, I go to the theater, watch a TV program or a movie, to have fun, not to criticize! And, I’m having fun! If the actors are good, I laugh and enjoy the genuine and quality acting.
In case the points are in doubt, I’m still laughing and amused at how stupid they are! I don’t blame my fellow amateurs! We were all amateurs at first! A great actor and theater teacher said that you can’t say about an actor that he is good or bad, only after about ten years of his career! So, let’s be patient!
The story of the song “Turtle”, which brought him fame
You became famous with the song “Turtle”. Do you still sing it? What is actually the story behind this song?
The poem “Turtle”, written by Cristian Morgenstern, and discovered by me in the 70s, in “Anthology of Innocence”, by Iordan Chimet, became my piece of resistance in folk shows, thanks to the onomatopoeic refrain, born on a night of inspiration, in the student dorm room, where my colleague Gheorghe Dănilă bore me all night with this song that I sang until the chorus was imprinted in my memory. And, yes, I still sing “Tortoise”, whenever I have the chance!
Radu Gheorghe, about the situation in Tulcea, his hometown: “The city’s population is not scared!”
You were born in Tulcea, an area with great emotions, during this period, because of the war on the border. How is the situation there? Do residents fear the worst?
Tulcea is a cosmopolitan city! Almost all cohabiting nationalities from the whole country can be found in my hometown! They always lived together in good peace and understanding!
All the nations that invaded us left heirs and customs. So the population of the city is not afraid of the possibility of a direct conflict! Nobody wants it, but if it happens we will pass it with dignity and courage!
Do you still believe in love? Can we fall in love at any age like in high school?
Radu Gheorghe: Yes! Yes! Yes!
How Radu Gheorghe ended up with his car, Dacia 1310, in the middle of a river
The artist remembered one of the most embarrassing incidents from the filming. He told it to us, with his characteristic humor.
And to end the interview on an upbeat note, tell us a funny joke. Or a funny incident, from filming…
Radu Gheorghe: With pleasure! At a filming, which was taking place near Bucharest, I arrived in good time with my personal car, a Dacia 1310. The filming was taking place on the bank of a river, which had a bank about 4 meters high, and I was on the opposite side of the bank , towards the film crew.
There were two possibilities, to reach the other side: either to turn back, 10 km, or to find a ford upstream to drive through! I chose the second option and found the ford, where the water was only up to my knees! I rolled up my pants and went into the water to check the consistency of the bottom! It seemed fine. Gravel with sand, clear water and rather strong current.
Still, I decided to attempt the crossing, putting all my hope in the power of the engine and my relatively poor but ambitious skill. There were still traces of crossings, but, to be sure, traces of tractor wheels. I started with a lot of courage, the engine stopped in the middle of the river, and the current of water began to dig around the wheels, in such a way that my Dacia was sinking in plain sight.
I quickly opened all the doors, so that, in no time, the water of the river was running through the interior of the poor Dacia 1310, as if it had been doing this since the beginning of time! I, satisfied with my feat and especially with the fact that I had managed to stabilize the position of the car, introduced myself to the wet film crew and managed to divert their attention to the river, where they could leisurely enjoy the sight of the car disaster , caused even by the owner of the non-floating means of transport.
A team lorry pulled my car out of the river and the whole day of filming the van driver tinkered with the Dacie until he made it reusable! Sign this report, a modern Nastratin Hogea.
I caught our great artist Radu Gheorghe, the other day, shopping, in a store with gardening tools, a sign that he is also a good householder. Dressed in sportswear, you wouldn’t even say that Radu Gheorghe is 72 years old. The world admired him from afar. You can’t not recognize him, you can’t confuse him. It is unique and unrepeatable…
Read also: Mihai Bobonete, one step away from being fired. The moment when the actor made the decision that changed his life
