Room At The Top by John Braine The Romanian Version: Drumul Spre Inalta Societate

 Room At The Top by John Braine

The Romanian Version: Drumul Spre Inalta Societate

 

This is a good, modern novel, which was adapted for the big screen. The movie went on to win two Academy Awards for Simone Signoret in the leading role and for adapted screenplay.

Joe Lampton is a complex character, with positive traits and aspects that can make him loathsome to some readers.

I empathized with him and feel that his effort to ascend in society is not as ruthless as it may first seem. I may have misread or misunderstood some messages from what is anyway an adapted version, but to me it did not feel like Joe is trying to make it to the top, no matter what.

Like on every morning, today I have listened to the play called “Drumul Spre Inalta Societate”. This has become a ritual and I am getting the hang of it. One in three productions is worth it, and it helps me discover, in only one hour, some author I would not otherwise know. I did see the movie with Simone Signoret, but had had no idea who John Braine is, before this morning.

I found that while running with my dogs, a play can be more accessible than Joyce or Faulkner and I will develop this habit, even if for every good play, there are another two misfires.

Joe Lampton enters a love triangle with Alice Aisgaill- a married, witty woman and Susan Brown- a younger, rich and attractive person.

In a few ways, I have been in his position- having to decide or cheat on one…or both women. Sometimes you cannot help it…it is not for lack of a wish to end a difficult situation- you just don’t know what to do, or you do not want to hurt either party and end up torturing all.

Joe Lampton is attracted by both Alice and Susan, albeit in different ways. At least this is my perspective. He likes the wisdom, maturity and perhaps protection offered by Alice, but at the same time is enticed by the innocence, purity and youth of Susan Brown (which sounds like the infamous Sandra Brown- a name that used to be on all the shelves of all the mobile bookshops in town).

Mr. Brown is played in the adapted play that I listened to by George Constantin, a name that tends to come up often in my notes, because he is a role model, magician and much more than an actor for me.

I did not have a guru, or people to show me around and present the image of the perfect man. But here it is, as close to perfect as one can be:

Booming voice, strong personality, humor, extraordinary energy, herculean appearance. For a skeptic and atheist turned agnostic and still in search of the truth, George Constantin comes up with proves that magic exists.

I have seen a few movies on the theme of religion and miracle workers, priests: two come to mind- one with Robert Duvall in the title role, called the Apostle and the other is Elmer Gantry, with Burt Lancaster playing the visionary Man of God.

And the third will have Steve Martin in the role of one who starts as a charlatan but ends up really bringing rain to a town suffering from a severe draught. If it was him.

George Constantin is the man who brings rain, a smile on your face, makes your skin crawl, your head spin and heart pump at maximum rate. All at the same time or separate…depending on his wish.

He has a Room At The Top.

Supernatural powers? Yes, he has them, absolutely.

State of grace, nirvana and joie de vivre where all known by him and presented on stage or through the ether, by means of the radio.

And with his small role in this production he helped bring the adapted play to a whole new, higher level.

If I loved the play it is in large part thanks to George Constantin.