By Jahid BUSHATI
Memorie.al / A difficult childhood, more precisely a poor one, he met to have “friends” Ndoc Deda, from the first stammers of life. To challenge this misery a little so that the wetness of age would not be covered by the crust of pain; chose two paths in life: – at the age of 14, he started working as a cleaner in the cinema “Massimo” (former school of “Parruca”, – Shkodër) and – he started to deal with theater, where he became active in theater companies: “Populli” ( later it got the name “Shkodra”), “Vllaznia”, “Malet oura”, “Antoniane”, etc. His family remembers Ndoc Deda as always connected to the stage (from the age of 13 to 44) leaving behind a gallery of roles…!
Even at home, he lived with the theater. Alone, in the bedroom, he repeated the role(s), and loudly performed…! In that magical world he created, which only he knew, he sketched the character’s profile. It gave him life. (They tell about Ndoci…: Often times guests or hosts, while listening to the permanent ritual of Ndoci’s solitary interpretation, where his voice came from, were surprised and immediately remembered: “Ah, yes, it’s Ndoci…! We thought it’s not at home”!
The friends, lovers and colleagues of Ndoc Deda were the artists: Kadri Roshi, Naim Frashëri, Mihal Popi, Ndoc Mëshkalla, Lazër Filipi, Gjon Karma, Ndrekë Shkjezi, etc. The latter, you could very well call them a ‘troupe’ that came from Shkodra, at the People’s Theatre.
During my research for this figure, I learned that; Ndoci performed in the parts: “The wonderful connection”, “Xido”, etc. Regarding the first, the newspaper “Bashkimi” dated May 29, 1946, said: “In the theater ‘Kosova’, the state theater group presented for the first time on the evening of May 24, the comedy of V. M. Kirshion, the first of its kind… ! “The wonderful connection” – Pandi Stillu.
Also performed: Liza Vorfa, Besim Levonja, Ndoc Deda, Belul Hatibi, Prokop Mima, Andrea Malo, Olga Shuraja. As for the drama “Xhido”, in the magazine “Bota e re”, published in Tirana in 1945, it is written: “Ndoc Deda in the role of Pandeli, he was successful, he proved his skill, as Shkodran was understandable, his voice, there was no need for acoustics or speakers”!
A special one for Ndoc, in his acting career, was that; at the beginning, his name is not mentioned as an actor, but only as a translator, as a prompter (probably one of the first, next to Ndoc Gora), especially in the “Shkodra” cinema. He gave his voice to silent films, in communication with the spectator. He also followed this path (as a prompter and translator) in the “National” cinemas in Tirana and in Durrës. This lasted until 1953. When the film came to sound, Ndoci’s voice “rested”.
It returns to its former “nest”, to the amateur groups that gave it life and that had created an invigorating and life-giving tradition in Shkodër. The main station of the activity is the “Antoniane” Society. This lasted until… in 1944. On May 20, 1945, he was called to Tirana, in the first founding group of the People’s Theater, as an actor. He worked for about 2 years and left for health reasons.
His birthplace, Shkodra, where he was born on 04.08.1905, is waiting for him again. He started working with amateur groups. In April 1949, he was appointed director of the Workers’ Clubs; “Vasil Shanto” and “Perlat Rexhepi”. On December 16, 1949, he is a professional actor in the “Migheni” theater. Again in the first founding group… but this time from Shkodra.
Footsteps in the Theater Society…!
Ndoc Deda’s activity as an actor “knocked” in several theater companies, which had a name in the city of Shkodra. From our research, we have arrived at these notes, which we are forwarding as follows:
In the company “Vllaznia”
-On 10.08.1919, he performed in the drama “Erminja e vorfën”. In the press of the time, this drama had a lot of opposition and controversy.
-On 27.11.1919, he acted in the drama “Besa”, by Sami Frashëri.
-In 1936, he performed in the drama “Count of Saint German”, directed by Sokrat Miho. (In this play, modern stages were used for the first time).
In the “Antonian” society
-On 23.10.1938, he performs in the drama “Dede Gjo’ Luli”.
– On 29.08.1942, he performs “Oso Kuka”, by Zef M. Harapi. Ndoci performs together with Luigj Mjeda e, Ndoc Bazhdar.
– In 1943, he performed in the drama “Artaxerxes”.
In the society “Our mountains”
-In 1934, he performed in the drama “Bardha e Ferdinandi”
In the company “Shkodra”
-On 28.12.1921, he performed in the drama “Genovefa of Brabant”, where it had a good response, so much so that, at the request of the public, it was performed more than 30 times. This drama, – according to the notes of the researcher Gjush Sheldia, – had more self-directing and, in particular, the play of the actor Ndoc Deda stood out.
In Shkodër, until the creation of the professional theater, he also performed in the dramas: “Under the Chestnuts of Prague”, “The Truth”, “The Russian Issue”, “Makar Dubrava”, “Those Who Don’t Submit”, in the role of Taras Jachenko. Meanwhile, in the “Migheni” theater, he performed in the dramas “Zani i Amerika”, “Pyrmbysja”. While at the People’s Theatre, in 1945, he took part in the drama “The Great Evening”.
We are coming back to Shkodër!
With the theater group of the House of Culture, he will perform in the part “Order to Zvonkov” (comedy in 3 acts, author: A. Kornejčuk, Ndoci played the role of architect Arkidi Ivanović). In this show, also performed: Margalina Bojaxhi, Xhana Gjeluci, Maria Buçi, Roza Shpendi, Fadile Mustafa, Gjenovefa Paloka, Zina Filipi, Liza Paloka, Qazim Lila, Ndoc Gashi, Tonin Lorja, etc.
Ndoc Deda, constantly enriched his biography, with new roles, which he played with soul and gave his soul to live. But one day came…! It was 08.05.1951. Ndoci was returning that evening in May, from the show “Zani i Amerika”. All the way, he felt the joy of the role played; the joy that the actor feels after the performance. It was still with the enthusiasm of playing the role. Still communicating with the character.
He talked to him like a close friend. He was still repeating a joke Laughter. He laughed to himself. Still experiencing the thrill of the show. He enjoyed the May evening, the smiling moon and the stars that sparkled happily. When… behold… some shadows came out of nowhere…! From those shadows that scare the evening and man, the moon and the stars…! They arrest him anyway.
Now the stage will miss the performance of the actor Ndoc Deda. The scene will miss his humor. They punish him for 8 years. They condemn the actor, who wanted to seek freedom…! The shadows, with this punishment, deprived him of Freedom, which he always dreamed of…, which he loved eternally.
During these years, Ndoci recognized the captive camps of Ura Vajgurore, Varibob, Kafaraj, Vlashuk, Radostina, Levan… and finally… many points, without counting the sweat of toil, fatigue, tear, he left as evidence, in the construction of the Rinas airport.
After leaving prison, Ndoci continued his ties with the theater (where he had his heart and soul), this time he established relations with the amateur theater of the Municipal Enterprise. He worked all day, opening and closing channels, and at the same time, he was thinking about a theater group. Finally, with a thousand and one struggles, he raised it…!
Again a special one for Ndoc!
It was 1964. The theater group of the Municipal Enterprise took first place in the National Festival of Amateur Theaters. Ndoc Deda, the “Laureate” of the Festival is announced. They competed with the drama “War Wedding”, by Minush Jero. Ndoci is the director of the show, but he also plays the role of Halim. But even this joy, which… was short-lived. For this “mistake”, the member of the Jury, the “People’s Artist”, Ndrekë Luca, was reprimanded, where again the shadows reminded him of the words: “You knew that… Why did you appreciate it?! Why…”!
As for the irony of these evil words, we are mentioning some other notes from the acting life of Ndoc Deda:
– In 1925, he performed in the part “Harapi i Saint Domingo”, which appeared in the captaincy of the Castle of Shkodra.
– In 1938, he performed in the part: “Dream of 500 years”, by Andrea Skanjeti.
– In 1945, plays in the part “Sweat and Blood”.
In the information presented about this performance, the newspaper “Koha e re” of Shkodra, writes: “Ndoc Deda, has performed as the best artist, especially in the monologue of the last act and death”!
A little portrait:
Short body, with straight brown hair, with a characteristic fast walk, with sharp eyesight, with a face that always smiled that never lacked humor and that his heart loved to “play with me, sing with me”. He was an ardent football fan.
Ndoc Deda, died on February 22, 1983, at the age of 77. Like a green fir tree, the memory of the partner in several shows, the first professional actress of the theater “Migjeni” Çezarina Çiftja, who said: “She was one of the most elegant actors of the Shkodra stage? Together with Loro Kovačin, Pjeter Gjoka, Marije Logorecin, etc., they have been a connecting bridge, between the old tradition of the stage and the new realistic theater after the war.
His name is associated with a large percentage of the national and foreign repertoire of both eras. He is connected to the stage by a special and rare love, which lived with him until the end of his life. His figure on stage has been identified as the figure of an artist, where the following stood out in particular: his beautiful voice, his warm speech, with a great variety of colors! Memorie.al
