Constantin Tănase (Romanian pronunciation: [konstanˈtin təˈnase];
5 July 1880 â€" 29 August 1945) was a Romanian actor and writer for
stage, a key figure in the revue style of theater in Romania.Born into
a working-class family living in a peasant house in Vaslui, Romania.
An adequate but unexceptional student (although he did apparently
learn good German), his first exposure to the stage was by attending
plays at "Pârjoala" garden, where he saw popular theater, including
actors such as Zaharia Burienescu and I.D. Ionescu. This inspired him
to start an amateur theater group among his friends; they worked up
scenes from the plays Meşterul Manole, Căpitanul Valter
Mărăcineanu and Constantin Brâncoveanu; their closest thing to a
stage was a barn.His first professional experience as an actor was in
the Yiddish-language theater troupe of Mordechai Segalescu: they were
short an actor for a performance in Vaslui and drafted the youthful
Tănase. In 1896 he completed gymnasium. Despite his wish to become an
actor, at his parents behest he enrolled in the Military School at
IaÅŸi, but his rebellious behavior there quickly got him booted out.
He headed to Brăila, where he briefly attended the "Nicolae
Bălcescu" High School, but after a few weeks he dropped out due to
lack of funds.In Brăila he met the schoolteacher and writer Ion Adam,
who suggested that the 18-year-old Tănase take over his teaching post
in CurseÅŸti, Rahova, since Adam was headed to take some courses in
Belgium. He didn't do badly at the job, but hit it off badly with the
headmaster and some of the other teachers. With Adam's support, he got
another teaching job at Hârşoveni, Poeneşti, where poet Alexandru
Vlahuţă also taught. Tănase promptly developed his own style of
teaching, bringing music and gymnastics to a central role, which drew
new students to the school. He also involved his students' parents
through field trips which he used to teach history and geography. He
soon became a generally beloved local figure, but apparently the local
notary and certain lawyers disapproved of him and his methods and
managed to have him fired.
5 July 1880 â€" 29 August 1945) was a Romanian actor and writer for
stage, a key figure in the revue style of theater in Romania.Born into
a working-class family living in a peasant house in Vaslui, Romania.
An adequate but unexceptional student (although he did apparently
learn good German), his first exposure to the stage was by attending
plays at "Pârjoala" garden, where he saw popular theater, including
actors such as Zaharia Burienescu and I.D. Ionescu. This inspired him
to start an amateur theater group among his friends; they worked up
scenes from the plays Meşterul Manole, Căpitanul Valter
Mărăcineanu and Constantin Brâncoveanu; their closest thing to a
stage was a barn.His first professional experience as an actor was in
the Yiddish-language theater troupe of Mordechai Segalescu: they were
short an actor for a performance in Vaslui and drafted the youthful
Tănase. In 1896 he completed gymnasium. Despite his wish to become an
actor, at his parents behest he enrolled in the Military School at
IaÅŸi, but his rebellious behavior there quickly got him booted out.
He headed to Brăila, where he briefly attended the "Nicolae
Bălcescu" High School, but after a few weeks he dropped out due to
lack of funds.In Brăila he met the schoolteacher and writer Ion Adam,
who suggested that the 18-year-old Tănase take over his teaching post
in CurseÅŸti, Rahova, since Adam was headed to take some courses in
Belgium. He didn't do badly at the job, but hit it off badly with the
headmaster and some of the other teachers. With Adam's support, he got
another teaching job at Hârşoveni, Poeneşti, where poet Alexandru
Vlahuţă also taught. Tănase promptly developed his own style of
teaching, bringing music and gymnastics to a central role, which drew
new students to the school. He also involved his students' parents
through field trips which he used to teach history and geography. He
soon became a generally beloved local figure, but apparently the local
notary and certain lawyers disapproved of him and his methods and
managed to have him fired.
Share this
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
Join us for free and get valuable content delivered right through your inbox.