How much courage does one need nowadays to unfold on the stage, the personality and the murder of the great actress Eleni Papadakis, who was executed by the militia in the turbulent period of the Decembrians.
Polyna Gionaki dared to write and star in a performance, which brings out of the oblivion of history the short life, the great career but also the bottomless hatred of Papadaki’s colleagues. Which, in the end, cost her her life at the age of 42, in a particularly heinous and hideous way…
The most capable actress, in perhaps the most shocking performance of her career, crumples her soul on the board, in an inspired direction by Giorgos Christodoulou and comes to the theater “Grammes Technis” next Sunday (at 20:00 – Reservations: tel. 6932 258073 .General admission 15 euros, reduced 12 euros).
She is played by Lizy Xanthopoulou and her son, Lefteris Papanikolaou-Gionakis. Piano-Song: Maria Katsari.
“HER CO-WORKERS ENVIED HER”
Polyna Gionaki tells “P” about her project:
I wrote the play, calling a spade a spade! Which means that I am referring to big names of actors, who led Eleni Papadakis to her death. To those I told about the project, I was turned away! But I wanted to do a project to reveal the truth! And from then on I said “let them beat me!” So far, fortunately, this has not happened.
-Why is there this oblivion around Papadaki’s name?
After her death, they tried to erase her name and existence, because it pained them! They tried and succeeded, to some extent, in tarnishing her memory. She was murdered unjustly, by complaints from her colleagues! Why did they envy her! Because she was the best! The leftists executed her, but the moral perpetrator was the envy of her colleagues! And they had to eliminate her, because critics and the public praised Papadakis. And they couldn’t stand that!
She was very educated, without political sympathies. She was interested in Art. And he had a naivete, I would say. Because in such difficult times, in order to save left-wing prisoners from the execution squad of the Germans, he asked for favors from the occupying Prime Minister Ralli. So they said that she was Ralli’s mistress, but that is a lie!
Is it possible to have this envy on her face, a whole 80 years after this crime? This work restores the historical truth around this great form of Art!”.
“HE WAS A FOOLISH DADDY”
– Did you “get enough” of Yiannis Gionakis as a father?
She found time, but not as much as I would like as a daughter. I wanted more to satisfy him! You know, my father used to wake up early in the morning, go to the cinema for filming. Then go to the theater. Back then, they had two shows every day, except Mondays, and after the theater, they did night shoots for the cinema. His life was very intense at work. He was only free on Mondays, which were the theatrical holiday.
What I vividly remember was when I was very young and we went to Loutraki. Dad was in Athens, because he was playing in the theater. How I waited for Monday to come! And as soon as mom shouted “Polyna, Renata, run, dad came!” I remember how I ran to see him and get into his arms! He was a badass! I remember, every time he entered the house, he had one chocolate in one pocket and one in the other pocket, for me and my sister.”
“IT WAS A PERIOD OF CHARACTER”
I’m messing with myself now. Because I remember when I was a teenager, how he would come to me and say “come kiss you, hug you” and I would be attracted! Because I was the big one and I was embarrassed to be seen by my dad hugging and kissing me. Whereas now that I don’t have him and I think about it, I say to myself “oh my dad, I wish I had you here hugging me!”.
-How was he as a person?
My father was a peculiar character. He was very angry! He got angry, shouted, but in three minutes his nerves got over him and he was in good spirits! He held no grudges.
-Was your father aware that he was writing art history?
I don’t know if he was aware that he was writing history, what I do know is that when he got sick and was just before he died, he said “I’ve lived, I’ve tasted it all!” And this is a big deal, for a person to leave without repulsion.
-Did he carry any bitterness?
I don’t think he had any bitterness!
“I FELL AND BLOODED!”
-Did you feel that as a child of Gionakis, you passed aptitude tests every time?
All of us who are actors go through exams every day. But we, the children of great actors, even more so! Because we have to prove that we are not… incompetent! There is tremendous suspicion from the art world. My greatest quality is that I don’t have a complex. When I hear that I am recognized as the “daughter of Gionakis” I am happy! Because I like my father to be remembered and loved! I believe for myself that from the beginning when I started, I fought with my own wings! I fell, I got up!’
– Did you bleed?
Very much! I can’t hear what the people in the area are saying! I hear what the audience is saying!
-Why; Is there jealousy?
Do you think that what was happening then with Eleni Papadakis is not happening now? I can clearly hear what they are saying, but only people in the field that I count on and know to be honest.
-Did your father have friends from the cinema?
He was very close friends with Nikos Rizo. And he was also close to Yannis Michalopoulos. I remember Lambros Konstandaras, Aliki, Karezi, Chronopoulou, Galinea coming to our house very often. They hung out with Alexandrakis a lot in their youth!
-Do you feel blessed?
I feel blessed because I was raised by my parents with principles! My mother held the oar both at home and in my father’s career! My father always said “I wouldn’t have become Giannis Gionakis if I didn’t have my wife!”.
-Did your father want you to be an actor?
My father knew I would be an actor from the moment I was born! I looked and said it from a very young age! And he wanted me to become an actor, Kamarone! I remember my maiden time when I played a central difficult role. I was 28 years old, in the play “Taste of Honey”, at the theater “Porea”. He came into the dressing room to congratulate me and said “You are your own father!” and he closed me in his arms!
“FATHER AND ACTOR!”
-Are there some things you didn’t have time to tell your father?
Many! Too many! But at some point I will meet him and then I will tell him!
-Just two words for Gionakis?
Father, actress!
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