By Bejay Browne
A one woman show written and directed by a Paphos based playwright and featuring a Cypriot actress, was awarded ‘Best International one woman show’ at the United Solo awards in New York in November.
Directed and written by Paul Lambis, ‘Melina-The Last Greek Goddess’ was part of the competition which is now in it’s ninth season. The event ran for ten weeks and presented one hundred and thirty solo theatre productions from six continents.
Actress, Paola Hadjilambri said: “Representing Cyprus was an honour and a highlight of my career. Winning first prize for my country and raising the Cypriot flag on a Broadway stage was extremely emotional.”
The production illustrates the life of Melina Mercouri, an actress and political activist, who sought to symbolise the soul of Greek national identity. Mercouri was outspoken and a strong advocate for the return to Greece of the Parthenon Marbles from the British Museum.
The sell-out performance was attended by the Consul General of the Republic of Cyprus in New York, Alexis Phedonos-Vadet, Consul General of Greece in New York, Konstantinos Koutras, Head of the Pancyprian Association, Philip Christopher, Business Entrepreneurs Nikos Mouyiaris and George Kitsios, and Head of the Pancyprian Association Cultural Division, Ismini Michaels.
Broadway critic, Mehr Gunawardena, praised the production as intense and powerful adding that: “Hadjilambri’s determination to present Melina Mercouri in an authentic and fierce manner left no room for failure.”
She added that the play is cleverly written and directed, full of spirit, fight, and a love for Greece.
The world premiere of Melina took place in New York in 2017 with the support of the Pancyprian Association Cultural Division, under the auspices of the president of Cyprus, Nicos Anastasiades. It then went on to tour in Cyprus and Greece.
Lambis told the Paphos Post that Melina was staged for a final time in Cyprus on Saturday 1st December at the Almyra Hotel to a sell out audience.
