The paper analyses an exam-performance of the Szentgyörgyi István Theatre Institute (currently: University of Arts) , presented at the Studio Theatre in 1977. Based on I.L. Caragiale’s Vengeance (original title: Năpasta, also translated as The Blight), the performance was staged on the occasion of the anniversary of 125 years from the birth of the greatest Romanian playwright of the 19th century. A controversial psychological drama, different from the author’s other texts, both in genre as well as in its theme, is used to offer the best possibilities for the development of the students. The staging occurred in the period of communist nationalism, in the time of Nicolae Ceașescu’s dictatorship, when the oppression of the ethnic minorities had just started. The paper argues that even in the harsh conditions of the era, the director, Géza Gergely, managed to show the value of the play while challenging the acting students to demonstrate their best professional skills. Therefore the Romanian critics appreciated and praised the performance which won second place in its category at the Cântarea României Festival (Singing of Romania Festival). Whether this could contribute to the best communication and collaboration between Romanian and Hungarian cultures is still controversial.