The sage of Kalnų Slėnis Algimantas Rašimas

The sage of Kalnų Slėnis Algimantas Rašimas

Getting to Know Algiukas

“The more you know a person, the harder it is to speak about them,” – that’s what my grandmother used to say. Though deep inside I always disagreed with her, it has now happened to me as well: I need to write about a dear friend, yet words stumble. I begin to wonder – perhaps I can no longer arrange my thoughts, or maybe I’ve simply run out of imagination… or the muse hasn’t landed on my shoulder.

So, slowly, I’ll begin from the beginning… A long time ago – or perhaps not so long ago – in a corner of Lithuania, in Naujoji Akmenė, two people met. Both with a capital A. They met, clashed, since their opinions did not match. They turned on their heels and parted.

A month passed, maybe two… Yet in his thoughts, the bold, cheeky Algimantas could not let go of a director’s idea: a short, stocky man with a clear and beautiful articulation – perfect for the stage!
But… his difficult character, crooked and suspicious glance gave me pause.

At that time, the director of the Akmenė District Cultural Center, Rasa Čiutienė, assured me that although Algimantas Rašimas is a “stragus” man, he is also incredibly sincere, open, intelligent, and educated – and he behaves rudely only with those who are rude to him (life has proven this!).
I thought: worth the risk – what wouldn’t you do for theatre! After all, in the drawer lay Ona Jautakė’s play “Šalikelė”.

We met as a threesome: me, the capricious fellow, and also the newcomer Rasa Vasiliauskienė. They already knew each other, so it remained for me to get to know them. And today I will speak about Algimantas Rašimas – about Algiukas, as I now call him (about Rasikė – later).

Let my acquaintances not be offended – and there are quite a few of them: history teachers R. Mosėjus, R. Znutas, Professor G. B. Padegimas, and others – but such a patriot as Algimantas Rašimas is hard to find in today’s society. He carries his Homeland in his heart not with words, but with deeds.

More than once I have seen his fists clench at injustice – for he belongs to that generation who lived through the events of 1988–1991. A man who knows his grandfather was a book smuggler, and his ancestor – none other than Jonas Basanavičius. Perhaps that is why his great passion is books, literature… Most likely, if life had unfolded differently, he could have been a professor, lecturing at a university, because his erudition overflows.

It must be mentioned that Algimantas is a collector, a philumenist. His collection has long surpassed 10,000 pieces. So, if you want to please Algelis – all it takes is to bring him a matchbox as a souvenir. His dream has not yet been realized: no museum has been established. Yet when he smiles mysteriously, you think – maybe everything is still possible.

With Algelis, you can consult, philosophize, delve into historical events. Each role he takes on always begins with long and painstaking analysis, which helps him grasp and understand the character and the motives of their actions.

Since childhood he liked being the center of attention – though I know he will deny this – but if we follow his creative path, we see: he is a frequent guest on stage. With a guitar, with poetry, or with a new character – even today he still willingly performs. Though, as he jokes himself, it’s already time to prepare the younger generation for new roles.

Perhaps the desire to give warmth and sincerity pushed him into the roles of Santa Claus or Uncle Dominykas? Most likely, yes. And how many such cases are there nowadays, when Santa Claus visits children who do not receive many gifts otherwise – and he arrives with presents? He keeps nothing for himself: what he receives from others, he passes on. Isn’t that patriotic behavior?

For him, there are no strangers – everyone is his own. Such a rare phenomenon. You look at him and wonder – where does a man find so much optimism, so much will, so much faith?

Yes, he is a believer. Perhaps faith is what makes him stronger. He believes in people… he believes and he trusts.

He sometimes jokes with me that I am the only director who noticed that he can play not just comedy roles, but also roles in psychological drama. He is a man of deep spirit, and one hour, one day, one week, one year, even ten years are not enough to truly know him.

I hope we will still surprise ourselves with new, intriguing characters, which will again force us to starve and suffer spiritual torments.

Information about Algimantas Rašimas

Education:

Theatre experience:

Selected roles:

Director’s assistant:

Directorial work:

Naujoji Akmenė Folk Theatre (since 1997):
Roles include:

Theatrical tours:

Short films:

Intellectual activity: