Romanian underground is still just a shape without a fundament

In all great cities of the world there are intense underground movements. But what does "underground" mean? Some know that it is about artists that are not yet "on the market," who oppose the mainstream and try to modify or provoke its values. Some know that it's about basements where people experiment with sounds, images and booze. In Romania, the term is still loosely used to describe any events that are related to the above mentioned instances.

Any debutante is considered a member of the underground and any quasi-artistic manifestation happening in a pub is pompously named "underground event" thus explaining why only the next generations will be able to understand its true geniality. I do not believe that the term is "covered." It bounces like a bad check. This happens mainly because the opposite of the term is not yet clearly defined. The history of the Romanian underground is simple - in the beginning there were a few enthusiasts who transformed ancient basements and lofts into pubs and clubs.

This is how Green Hours or Laptaria lui Enache, appeared in Bucharest and Diesel in Cluj. The renowned Club A was already present in Bucharest, an underground "landmark" of past times, that was revived after the Revolution. Then Swing House, Back Stage, Ressurection Bar and Blue Light appeared. The American model took roots here in a soil that was once nurtured by French avant-garde. Jazz was the first to be met in such places. Poets made the first step towards underground though. Lectures accompanied by music were deemed "performances" and then things got a little confused when "event" was introduced as a definition. Then theatre descended to the basement. This is what happened with the Act Theatre. However, it's not enough to be under ground to be "underground."

The "fathers" of the Act Theatre are Marcel Iures and Mihai Maniutiu, important names in the mainstream. The closest thing to the "real thing" appears to be the Monday Theatre at Green Hours. High - quality art happens there. I will only mention Maia Morgenstern's show, put on the music of Dorina Crisan Rusu, a show called "Chirita en voiaj" or "Azi ma... ubu," an adaptation from Jarry, with Coca Bloos and Mihaela Radescu, directed by Camelia Hancu. This time, although the names are known as mainstream, the artistic algorithm that was used was adequate to the space they used and it imposed a theatrical alternative, a real "underground." The same shows were performed in other non-theatre-like spaces. It is good. As a matter of fact, underground took to the streets, yards, churches, factories, towers (we may be dealing with an "undersky" phenomenon here) and other hopeless places. I think I made things worse by trying to explain. If you failed to understand, then your feet are too well planted in the ground.

You need an "under" cure. Start by going down to the basement (really) and get familiar with the surroundings. Drink a gin tonic; give 1000 lei to one of the guys who sing in the subway. Or simply dance on your way home from work. Yes, these are "underground" steps.