I remember when still a kid, a girl, somehow younger than me, about seven or
eight years old, whose name was Tush. Tush was a plump, beautiful and very
sociable child. Although she was her parents’ only kid, she was not pampered
or stubborn. I lived in the same street, my gate was just a few meters away
from hers. We used to play at each others garden every day with our mates.
We asked her to sing and she could start singing without any childish
hesitation, and our neighbors would appear in their window panes to listen
to her. Her father, Palok Çurçia, a very honest man and patriot, was a
shoemaker and her mother, Roza, was a housewife, very simple, with easy
manners and very caring.
-Tush, her mother called her, come quick home.
-Coming, Mom.
Later on, Tush entered the girls college in Shkoder. There the pupils could
learn but also sing, recite, played kids theater etc. Tush was the very best
at singing and was also involved in some small dramatic pieces. She was now
seen less and less into the city streets. During the quiet summer evening
the neighbors could still hear her singing the folk songs of Shkodra area.
Tush left Shkoder when she married Kolë (Nikola) Logoreci, the son of the patriot
Mati (Matias) Logoreci. Although her parents and relatives did not give up the name
Tush, it was in Tirana she began to be recognized with her real name: Marie
Logoreci.
At first, she sang for Tirana Radio Broadcast and was very well accepted by
the public. There she happened to know distinguished artists like Kristaq
Antoniu, whom, after inquiring the expression in her eyes and her brave
behavior, advised her to join the theater. Marie had never thought about it.
She made a rehearsal and was accepted. That was in 1947. As soon as she was
accepted she was given a leading role in a foreign author play, acting next
to Naim Frashëri as his partner. I remember the piece very well because I
was also in it, and so was Liza Vorfi. Jessie, was Marie’s first part.
Excellently performed, it left the audience and her colleagues with very
good impressions. Than Marie went on playing a variety of characters with
the troupe of the National Theater, which brought her fame. She was a double
for Elvira in Tartouffe. While acting the part of Alisa in "The deep roots"
she was quite unique.
The artist Marie Logoreci brought forth on stage with dignity many
characters from classic and contemporary theater, such as: Lady Milford in
Schiller’s "Love and Intrigue", Zabelina in "The Kremlin Clocks", Gertrude
in "Hamlet", in Gogol’s "Enemies", in Chekhov’s "Uncle Vania". But she was
best in Lorca’s "The house of Bernarda Alba" when she made the audience and
her partners tremble on stage by her dominant piercing voice. She acted
powerfully and grasped you with her eyes and voice.
