CRETE TOOK OVER TOM MANN THEATRE

On Saturday 25th April, at the TOM MANN THEATRE, the Cretan Folkloric Company and Michael Platyrrahos put on a magnificent production, together with the boys and girls who are members of the musical-dancing school of the Company.
The production was directed and prepared in the best possible way. The musicians who took part were John Krasadakis (lute) from Sydney and Sifis Tsourdalakis (lyra, song) and Andrew Vardakis (lute) from Melbourne, where as the narration was done by Ulysses Platyrrahos. The recital of the poems “Κρήτη μου” by M. Kafkala and “H Παραγγελία” by M. Koutsourakis were done by co-worker of Βήμα Μrs E. Moraitakis. Apart from that, the most significant event of the production was that done by the young men and women who danced and presented the different costumes of Crete.
Tina Parliaros presented the costume of the Chaniotissa, Joanna Papalexopoulοs the Sfakiani, Kathy Ifandoudas the Anogiani, Voula Platyrrahos the Rethemniotissa, Angie Vourvahakis the Mesaritissa and Olympia Tsalikis the Agianikoliotissa. The dancers who took part, except from Michael Platyrrahos were Andrew Parliaros, Anthony Antipas, Greg Antipas Vasilios Papalexopoulos and Con Platyrrahos.
The first part of the production consisted of the presentation of the costumes, which went into detail about each province or place of origin, and concluded with Cretan dancing.
The second part consisted of the choir of the Cretan Folkloric Company, with Michael Platyrrahos their lead singer, as they sung known songs of Crete and mandinades. Taking part in the choir and dancing were Stratis Stavroulakis and Stratos Vourvahakis who learn to play lyra, Niki Marinelis who is also learning lyra, Lia Marinelis, Spyros Platirahos, Alex Platirahos, Maria Bargiatakis and Sylvia Bellos. As well as Peter Skoutelis, Tony Kassapakis and Con E. Platirahos who are learning the lute. The organisation and presentation of the production left the audience speechless.
It is an event that should be imitated by all organisations. Congratulations to Michael Platyrrahos and all the young men and women who worked hard to make this a magnificent production, as well as to anybody who helped in any way. We have to stress the point that the youth who take on roles such as these will help keep the civilization alive. They showed us on Saturday through this production what they are capable of.

(The Vema)

ΤΗΝ ΚΡΗΤΗ ΤΗΝ ΕΣΠΕΙΡΑΜΕ ΣΕ ΞΕΝΗ ΠΑΡΑΛΙΑ
ΚΑΙ ΦΥΤΡΩΣΕ ΚΑΙ ΑΝΘΙΣΕ Σ'ΟΛΗ ΤΗΝ ΑΥΣΤΡΑΛΙΑ

THE CRETAN YOUTH RESPECT THEIR HISTORY AND TRADITIONS

A pleasant surprise awaited the audience on Saturday night at the presentation of “the Cretan costumes through the ages” at TOM MANN THEATRE by Michael Platyrrahos who is also the shield of the Cretan Folkloric Company.
It was a lot more than just a “presentation of costumes.” It was like a praise to Crete and it’s people, from the youth who was born in Australia. We had the opportunity to witness a production which had been researched thoroughly, prepared to the last detail, and performed professionally with poetry, dancing, song and recitals of history and folklore.
Young Michael Platyrrahos presented us with the best performance for years to come, as this is a rare maturity for people his age. He taught us of the customs and their attachments to the homeland of our ancestors.
With a full program, Michael held the audience’s attention using the rich history of Crete, with the valued help of his father Ulysses Platyrrahos - who had the role of the narrator - and all his co-workers. The program began with the recital of the poem “Κρήτη μου” written by Michael Kafkala by Elfa Moraitakis, who also recited with the same passion “Η Παραγγελία” by Manolis Koutsourakis.
The recitals were followed by the presentation of the male and female costumes, and in between the presentations, the dancing group of the Company performed famous Cretan dances such as Chaniotiko Syrto, Mikro-mikraki, Maleviziotiko, Pendozali, Trizali, Apanomeritiko etc. The female costumes were presented by Tina Parliaros (Chaniotissa), Joanna Papalexopoulos (Sfakiani), Voula Platyrrahos (Rethemniotissa), Kathy Ifandoudas (Anogiani), Angie Vourvahakis (Mesaritissa) and Olympia Tsalikis (Agionikoloitissa).
The male costumes were presented by Michael Platyrrahos, Andrew Parliaros, Anthony Antipas, Greg Antipas, Vasilios Papalexopoulos and Con Platyrrahos. These magnificent costumes are the creation of Mrs Lela Klidi, who says: “The costumes together with the monuments, language, music, dancing and cultural traditions complete one of the significant aspects of cultural traditions for one place. My love for Crete, it’s people and their traditions guided me to research books, visit folklore museums, follow advice from descriptions made by respected elderly people and to attempt to reproduce the female costume as it was worn in those times. If I have succeeded, the people of Crete would be my critics for the work which I have done. I done this through my love and passion towards Crete.”
In the second part of the program the choir of the Company sang “Προσκυνώ τη χάρη σου λαέ μου”, “Ποτέ θα κάμει ξαστεριά”, a mourning song, a wedding song, madinades and others, where as the dancing group continued to perform Cretan dances.
The production concluded with madinades about cultural traditions by Michael Platyrrahos, and Sigano Pidixto Pendozali was danced by everyone who took part in this event.
We also have to mention the three people who made this night a success, and they are the three talented musicians John Krasadakis from Sydney, and Sifis Tsourdalakis and Andrew Vardakis from Melbourne, whereby throughout the production they presented us with the splendid Cretan music and songs as sung by Sifis Tsourdalakis.

(O Kosmos)

THE CRETAN TRADITIONAL COSTUME

AS IT WAS PRESENTED BY THE CRETAN FOLKLORIC COMPANY

The production organised for Saturday 25th April 1998 at 8:00pm at the TOM MANN THEATRE 136-140 Charlmers St. Surry Hills by the Cretan Folkloric Company was a great success.
During the production which was organised by the young and well known musician of our community Michael Platyrrahos, the audience was provided with the opportunity to witness traditional costumes of Crete through the ages, whilst listening to narration of history, folklore and poetry, and accompanied by traditional Cretan music, madinades, rizitika as well as dancing from the dancing group of the Cretan Folkloric Company.
The production was honoured by the presence of a lot of compatriots (the theatre was full).
The night was divided into two parts. The first part was the major presentation of the Cretan traditional costumes with the accompaniment of Cretan song by John Krasadakis on lute, as well as the two well known musicians from Melbourne Sifis Tsourdalakis who played lyra and sang the beautiful Cretan songs and Andrew Vardakis who played lute. These three musicians completed the framework of the musical part of the production.
Part of the framework was also the narration made by Ulysses Platyrrahos, father of Michael. Mr Platyrrahos’ narration “took us on a journey.” He did this through reciting historic, folkloric and poetry pieces which took us back into history. A man who tightly linked the customs and traditions of his homeland, in order to present them to the rest of the civilization.
The traditions, customs and lifestyles need to be continued and have the obligation to be continued, no matter whether we live in Australia or Greece. The people who have a past also have a future, and Crete has a past, therefore it is in need of a future. The preservation of our traditions indicate that we haven’t lost, that we exist and that the traditions of our ancestors will continue. Our traditions and customs were established with pain and labour by our ancestors, and therefore it is our obligation to maintain these without changing them. We are obliged to keep alight the flame which was established by our forefathers, to honour them by continuing to promote our culture through following their traditions and ways of life.
They were a few messages Ulysses Platyrrahos was trying to get across through his narration. This is also the message we received from Michael Platyrrahos and his young collegues who showed us that the flame is still alight in the Cretan youth of today, that the traditions will stay alive, that the youth of Crete support and are involved with the issues that affect their homeland eventhough they live in Australia. This distance from their mother Crete allows their passion to grow in order to learn more about the traditions and customs, to mobilize and culminate their lifestyles in Australia.
The Cretan traditional costumes which we saw diring the production were from different places in Crete and therefore got their names (Chania, Sfakia, Anogia, Rethemnon, Mesaras-province of Iraklio, Agio Nikola), each with their individual beauty and history. The Cretan women always loved appearance, dress, happiness and beauty, traits which they identified as dynamic characteristics.
A lot of hard work and praise had been put into the costumes even to the last stitch, you saw this through the materials used as well as the colours chosen depending on the time of history they were worn. The female costumes were made from woven silk, satin cloth, their vests were embroidered with gold thread, headpieces from woven graft, gold coins as decorations around their neck. The Cretan costumes were masterpieces.
The male costumes were also made with great detail. Th vraka was worn before the Turkish Rule. There was a costume for each circumstance. The formal male costume was made from the best possible cloth, dark blue in colour.
The dancing group of the Cretan Folkloric Company with Michael Platyrrahos as dancing instructor, put on a magnificent performance. The best impression made on the audience was the war dance which was danced with such a dynamic force by the young Cretan dancers. Sousta - a dance of love - performed by the young men and women, set a mood of happiness and enjoyment. Dances which made the audience who came from Crete feel nostalgic towards their home country, and the audience who was from other areas of Greece admired the way the Cretan traditions were continued in Australia.
In the second part of the night we listened to songs sung by the choir of the Cretan Folkloric Company. In this part the Cretan youth gave it all the had.
Taking part throughout the duration of the performance was the talented musician Michael Platyrrahos. He danced, sung and played beautiful Cretan songs on his lyra.
Also taking part in the production was Elfa Moraitakis who recited two poems about her homeland Crete.
Finally, a brief speech on the preservation of Cretan Folklore and its importance was made by the organiser of the night Michael Platyrrahos.
The production concluded with Ulysses Platyrrahos sincerely thanking everyoune, and didn’t hide his emotions or the pride he had for these young Cretans who showed us with such great strength throughout the production their love for Crete and,

“Κρήτη μου γεια σου Κρήτη μου με τους λυράρηδές σου,
όσο θα ζει η παράδοση. δε θα χαθείς ποτέ σου.”

This was the message which was brought across throughout the night.
It was a magnificent productuion which was hosted by the Cretan Folkloric Company and was an example set for all the Greeks of Australia. The Australian born Cretans proved that they are capable of establishing and working hard to maintain the traditions of their ancestors.
Congratulations are in order to Michael Platyrrahos for his magnificent organisation of the production and for the opportunity that the gave us to witness significant folds of Cretan traditions.
Finally, we wish Michael Platyrrahos and also to the other young men and women who took part in this production all the success and happiness for their future productions.

(Greek Herald)