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The play «The Visit of the Old Lady», written by the Swiss playwright and novelist Friedrich Dürrenmatt in 1956, has become quite popular recently. At the beginning of November, the premiere took place at the Stanislavsky Electrotheatre, and was directed by Oleg Dobrovolsky. And at the same time it was put on in the Maly Theatre and staged by the Israeli director, the former Artistic Director of Habima National Theatre Ilan Ronen. What is it so relevant nowadays? If the Electrotheatre took the path of research on transhumanism, then in the Maly Theatre the decided to reveal human vices. «MK» columnist with a review of the Maly’s recent production.

An empty platform, a bunch of poorly dressed people with a banner: «Welcome, our Klarochka!». At some point they decide that it's too unceremonious, and they turn the poster over to the other side, on which says: «Welcome, Ms Claire Zachanassian!» - this is how the two-faced nature of the city's residents for the first time reveals itself to the audience. As the trains sweep past, the townspeople talk, telling the story of the city of Güllen, the city where «Goethe spent the night» - and now experiencing a crisis, devastation and lack of money. They are preparing for the arrival of a famed billionaire Claire Zachanassian, who grew up here.

People's Artist of Russia Lyudmila Titova, who plays the leading role in the play, appears on stage as a character rather than a human being - an eccentric rich woman accustomed to commodity-money relations. At first we see her impressive shadow on the backscreen, then Claire herself makes appearance, a woman, who is taking away souls, an embodied revenge that knows no mercy. «The world has turned me into a whore, I will turn it into a brothel!» - she declares. And she has all the rights - 45 years ago Claire's ex-lover, Alfred Ill, betrayed her, denying her paternity claim and marrying Matilda Bluhard, the daughter of the owner of the general store. And now the old lady is back to seek justice.

The story of love and revenge, suddenly turns into a truly Gogol’s comedy. The tragic part recedes into the background, allowing comedies to play mise-en-scenes and bring heroes on stage in order to please the audience. This is how the castrated and blinded Koby (Victor Bunakov) and Loby (Mikhail Fomenko) appear, resembling Bobchinsky and Dobchinsky, as well as Claire's personal guards - «two of a kind», Roby and Toby. The Mayor (Alexander Klukvin) is also a typical Gogol’s character. And these people will determine other people's destinies! It is not surprising that when a billionaire puts her condition to the residents of the city - «check for a billion for the traitor's death», everyone is horrified, not wanting to become an executioner, but, as it often happens, the decision are changed quickly. And after some time people realize that the death of one person is a good and decent fare for the happy and comfortable life of others. Only the Schoolmaster, played by Vladimir Nosik, assumes a distinctive role as a "seer" of truth. But his fervent speeches are drowned in the roar of the crowd - it is impossible to protect the one who has condemned himself to the mistakes of the past.

Perhaps the most important problem of this production is that there are no heroes who we can easily sympathize with, they are all puppets in the director's hands. If you think about it, Dürrenmatt wrote his play as a tragicomedy. It is based on the drama of a woman who only loved once, who was betrayed by a partner, but managed to survive. And on the example of one story - from private to general - Dürrenmatt revealed the whole layer of human relations in a world where the only thing that is valuable is money. So in the play - gradually penetrating into the inhabitants of Güllen, starting with the clothing, and then capturing the lights - gold becomes the main driving force, justifying any crime of the society that fell ill with the «gold rush».

The story of one person (who betrayed his love 45 years ago, for the sake of profit) reveals the history of the whole society - a society striving for profit, capable of killing and sacrificing anyone for the sake of a beautiful life. And if logically the audience should sympathize with Claire, whose fate was broken by the man she passionately loved, that does not happen - it's hard to sympathize with the caricature. The only living character, surprisingly, is Ill performed by Vasiliy Bochkaryov - pathetic, destroyed by time and trampled by his own impotence, ingratiating and cowardly. He is the only one who changes throughout the whole performance - from the former executioner he eventually becomes a victim.

As for the main character, there is no tragedy in her, even in the failed scene of the murder (a scene in the forest), where Claire, stifled to the frenzy, kisses, is nothing real. Like the character of the film «Death Becomes Her» she rises from the dead, like a mechanical doll - unharmed and soulless. Not a woman, but a capitalist killing machine. In Ilan Ronen’s production there’s a lot of artificial – like a fake forest, a tragicomedy without tragedy, not to cry, but to feel indignant.

And then everything happens at lightning speed: the hero will be sentenced to death with instant execution. And the cost of betrayal does not really matter. The ramshackle city will be overwhelmed with money, and all for the sake of one - that the heroine could take with her the one whom she loved. Let the dead, destroyed, lying in the coffin - but belonging only to her from now on. In the finale, everyone starts dancing, but the sounds of Ill's harmonica make the residents remain standing stiff. Yet again, director Ilan Ronen decides the finale to look more like the final scene from Gogol's «The Government Inspector».

Those who strive to find a dramatic component and dramatic reading will most probably fail to detect them. However, perhaps, laughter is a much more effective weapon against the evils of society? Even Gogol knew this. Or maybe Dürrenmatt?...

Ekaterina Pisareva, «Moskovsky Komsomolets», November 21, 2017

Dear friends,

We are happy to share with you a recording of a TV show «The Leading Role» starring People's Artist of Russia Lyudmila Titova, where she talks playing Claire Zachanassian in a recent production «The Visit of the Old Lady» directed by Ilan Ronen.

This is the first time that the Maly Theatre took part in a charitable project initiated to provide theatre experience accessibility for people with visual and hearing disabilities. Yesterday, first disc with audio description of Vladimir Beylis’ play «Enough Stupidity in Every Wise Man» was presented at the Maly Theatre.

Details are in Channel One coverage

People's Artist of Russia Vasiliy Ivanovich Bochkaryov is celebrating his 75 birthday today, on November 22nd . We wish this irresistibly charming person and the great master of the stage lots of love, health and luck for days to come!

On Sunday, December 17, the Maly Theatre will celebrate the anniversary of Vasiliy by performing Ostrovsky’s «The Heart is Not a Stone» on the Main stage. Family, friends and colleagues will gather after the show to celebrate his special day. The performance shall start at 18:00.

Today we would like to share with you two videos. The first one is a story recounted by Vera Anatolyevna Maximovа about Vasiliy’s stage career, and the second one is a compilation of his works.

Dear guests,

We would like to inform you of the Maly Theatre’s repertoire changes for November and December 2017 and January 2018:

November 25 (Saturday, Ordynka stage) there will be a production of Alexander Ostrovsky’s comedy «IT’S A FAMILY AFFAIR-WE’LL SETTLE IT OURSELVES» instead of «The School for Taxpayers» («How to Cheat the State»)

December 13 (Wednesday, Ordynka stage) «The School for Taxpayers» («How to Cheat the State») will be replaced by «MONEY TO BURN»

December 28 (Thursday, the Main Stage) «ENOUGH STUPIDITY IN EVERY WISE MAN» will run instead of «The Masquerade»

January 24 (Wednesday, Ordynka stage) there will be a production of Alexander Ostrovsky’s comedy «IT’S A FAMILY AFFAIR-WE’LL SETTLE IT OURSELVES» instead of «The School for Taxpayers» («How to Cheat the State»)

Tickets are valid. We apologize for any inconvenience!

Dear friends,

In October 2017 one of the most popular performances of the Maly Theatre – «Secrets of the Madrid Court» by Eugène Scribe and Ernest Leguvé celebrated its 20th anniversary. It was played over 600 times to packed houses. Numerous actors performed in this play, replacing one another but two major characters remained unchanged from the opening night - Charles V, King of Spain performed by People's Artist of Russia Vyacheslav Ezepov and Princess Marguerite, brilliantly portrayed by People's Artist of Russia Elena Kharitonova. In celebration of the 20th anniversary of the production, we asked Elena Kharitonova, Vyacheslav Ezepov and director Vladimir Beylis to share their memories and impressions that they had accumulated during this time.

Special video prepared by Evgeniy Pavlov

Dear friends,

On November 26 (Sunday) we invite you to attend an evening at A.I.Sumbatov-Yuzhin's Memorial Apartment entitled « “It is for the first time that I take full and complete responsibility for his entire life” :Alexander Yuzhin and Alexander Ostuzhev» from the cycle «The history of one friendship», dedicated to the 160th birthday of Alexander Ivanovich Sumbatov-Yuzhin (1857 - 1927). You will hear an exciting story about the friendship of two great artists of the Maly Theatre, based on their letters, diary entries and memoirs of contemporaries.

The evening will be attended by Honored Artist of Russia Alexander Beliy and artist Alexander Driven.

The author and presenter of the program - Nadezhda Telegina.

The evening starts at 18:00.

Admission is free by appointment by calling: 8-916-879-84-90 or by sending an e-mail to: sumbatov.yuzhin@maly.ru

Dear friends,

As you already know, today is the opening night of «The Visit of the Old Lady» based on the tragicomedy by Friedrich Dürrenmatt. It is the first production based on the work of the Swiss playwright, staged at the Maly Theatre that was directed by Ilan Ronen (Israel). Just in a few hours the curtain will open, the lights will go down and the audience will plunge into the strange and bizarre atmosphere of the provincial town of Güllen preparing for the arrival of famed billionaire Claire Zachanassian. However, everything has its time, so while the artists are getting ready for the big night, come, let's take a peek behind the scenes and see what is happening there. Photos by Evgeniy Lyulyukin

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The theatrical excursion as a genre was revived at the Maly Theatre. A.I.Sumbatov-Yuzhin's Memorial Apartment of the Maly Theatre together with M.N. Ermolova House- Museum (a branch of A.A. Bakhrushin State Central Theatre Museum) gives everyone a wonderful chance to plunge into the history of theatre by exploring the lives of two outstanding artists.

«Moscow addresses of the great actors – Alexander Sumbatov-Yuzhin and Maria Ermolova» is a joint project of the Maly Theatrу and the Museum-Estate of Mariya Nikolayevna Ermolova. This two and a half hour excursion gives visitors a chance to visit the memorial apartment of Alexander Ivanovich Yuzhin and get acquainted with the artist's life and his creative path, then walk along his familiar route to the house of Maria Nikolaevna Ermolova, whose museum cordially invites the guests to share the stories about her. Along the path the attendees listen to an entertaining narrative about other outstanding artists who worked in Maly Theatre and lived in the neighborhood - Alexander Ostuzhev, Prov Sadovsky etc.

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The leading figures tell us nowadays what it truly means to love the theatre in the era of growth, and in a period of stagnation. The magical world of the stage continues to attract spectators, in spite of the ever-lasting influence of cinema, TV and the Internet. Alexander Ivanovich Sumbatov-Yuzhin and Maria Nikolaevna Ermolova are timeless artists. The joint project of the Maly Theatre and A.A. Bakhrushin State Central Theatre Museum allows everyone to read the great page of the theatrical chronicle. After all, without the past, there is no present, and hence, a future. The heroes of this wonderful excursion remind us of traditional values that do not grow dull with the years.

The tickets can be purchased at Maly Theatre's box offices. Group Tours (5 to 15 persons)

Dariya Semyonova, Teacher's Newspaper, November 6, 2017

Dear friends,
We would like to inform you that our newest production«The Visit of the Old Lady» by Friedrich Dürrenmatt, directed by Ilan Ronen (Israel) will run on December 3 and 14 and January 6. Tickets are already on sale! Be among the first to see it!

Dear friends,

On November 12, the run-through of Ilan Ronen’s production of «The Visit of the Old Lady» based on Friedrich Dürrenmatt’s play was held at the Maly Theatre. The opening night is scheduled for November 16. Tickets are already on sale. And today we are happy to share with you a photo gallery from yesterday's performance by Ivan Novikov-Dvinsky.

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Dear guests,

We would like to inform you that on November 17 «The Masquerade» by Mikhail Lermontov will be replaced by Nikolai Gogol's «The Government Inspector».

All tickets are valid.

We apologize for any inconvenience!

On November 16th the Maly Theatre will offer its audience a new production, «The Visit the Old Lady» based on the tragicomedy by Friedrich Dürrenmatt. The director of the play Ilan Ronen answered several questions about the upcoming premiere.

- When did you receive an offer to return to the Maly Theatre, after a 30-year break?

- The first meeting with the Artistic Director of the Maly Theatre Yuri Solomin took place last year, in September. He said that he would like me to come and direct the performance on the stage of the Maly Theatre. We have known each other for over 20 years, since 1990, when I was working on «Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme» by Molière. In 2012 I brought the production of the Habima Theatre, «Road to Damascus» by Israeli playwright Hillel Mitellpunkt, directed by me, within a framework of the International UTE Festival that took place at the Maly Theatre. Throughout these years, me and Yuri kept in touch. So then there was an official invitation to come and work on a new production. Recently, I left the post of artistic director of the Habima theatre, and now I have more free time and more flexible working in theatres around the world. During the discussion of possible productions, Yuri liked the idea of putting «The Visit of an Old Lady» the most.

- Are there any actors in this production who worked with you 27 years ago in «Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme»?
- Yes, four actors from the current production were already engaged in the production of «Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme» in 1990. Among them are Lyudmila Titova, Viktor Bunakov, Zinaida Andreeva and Boris Klyuev. I saw Lyudmila Titova in 2012, when I was in Moscow with the Habima theatre, she watched our performances. So for me this is a very exciting event - to come here after so many years and work with the same actors.

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- How did the casting go?

- For me, the casting overall was quite a difficult process. In the Habima theatre, in which I had worked for 20 years, I knew all the actors, their strengths and weaknesses and their opportunities. In Moscow, casting took some time, but when I saw the artists all together on stage, I realized that it was the right choice. As I said, I worked with Lyudmila Titova before, and when her name came up in a conversation with Yuri, I was very happy. I heard about the acting skills of Vasiliy Bochkaryov, but before that I did not see him playing. And then I saw him on stage in the play «The Last Sacrifice», where he plays in a duet with Lyudmila. I also saw the chemistry and tension that exists between them in this performance. For my production, it was very important to show the love story of a man and a woman. In spite of other issues raised in this play, in the center of the story is the story of the first true love, a story about what an abandoned woman with a broken heart is capable of, who was betrayed due to cowardice and selfishness.

-Why is this play, written by Dürrenmatt in the 50s still relevant today?

-Look, I came to work at the Maly Theatre for the first time in 1990, and back then Moscow was a completely different city. Now everything has changed drastically. People have the opportunity and find easy ways to make money, they apply for bank loans without thinking about how they will give the money back. Even the mere fact of possessing money, obnubilates their minds and consciousness. The topics that were relevant decades and even centuries ago are relevant nowadays. Money is the power and might. Everything can be bought, including justice. The play raises the question of what the society is willing to pay for the material benefits.

-How do you find working with the actors of the Maly Theatre? Would you like to continue this collaboration?

- I work with professionals in my field, with real talents. And I hope that they are happy to solve the tasks that I set before them. It seems to me that I work somewhat different from other directors who have staged performances in the Maly Theatre. I work less with realism on stage. I prefer symbols, hidden hints. And that's what I'm trying to achieve with my actors. I have some ideas about putting on Shakespeare or Moliere next. I would like to continue this artistic dialogue with the Maly Theatre. At the moment I would most likely prefer to put on the classics. I would not want to voice a specific work, but I definitely see great opportunities for realizing my idea here.

-Can you feel the difference between the Russian actors and their colleagues from other countries?

-Sometimes it seems to me that I work with my company, and that I have long known all the actors. Yes, it is difficult sometimes, and at other times, on the contrary, quite easy. Habima is the oldest repertory theatre in Israel. Now it is celebrating its centenary. It was established by immigrants from Russia and the Stanislavsky system is more than known there. We are all students of this system, despite the fact that sometimes we are fighting against it. In addition, the Maly Theatre is a repertory theatre. In Europe only a few remained at the moment. In fact, in Russia, I feel at home. I worked with actors from Germany who are different from the Russian ones, I worked with actors from Israel. Israel is a melting pot, a multinational country, a real mixture of cultures and subcultures and traditions of various communities and generations. In Israel, for many people, Hebrew is not a native language. Russian culture in Israel has long-standing roots and all fields of culture are imbued with it - music, theatre, etc. During World War II, my mother had to flee from Poland to Siberia, to the refugee camp. She brought with her the memories and traditions that she witnessed. And so sometimes in Moscow, it seems to me that the Russian language is part of me, part of my biography, even though I do not know this language.

REFERENCE
Ilan Ronen (Israel) (former Artistic director of The Habima, the National Theatre of Israel, member of honour of the Union des Théâtres de l'Europe). Many performances staged by Ilan Ronen were honoured by professional awards. This is not his first production at the Maly Theatre. In 1990, an Israeli director was invited to stage «Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme» by Molière.

Dear friends,

We would like to share with you an episode that was broadcast on the Public Television of Russia channel featuring People's Artist of Russia Valeriy Afanasiev, where he talks about his roles, including his recent part in «Tsar Boris», and reveals a completely new facet of his talent by singing to his own guitar accompaniment.

On October 26, a seminar dedicated to the 170th anniversary of the birth of Alexander Pavlovich Lensky (1847-1908) and the 160th anniversary of the birth of Alexander Ivanovich Sumbatov-Yuzhin (1857-1927) was held at A.I.Sumbatov-Yuzhin's Memorial Apartment.

The seminar was opened by the Deputy Artistic Director of the Maly Theatre, rector of The Mikhail Shchepkin Higher Theatre School (Institute) of the State Academic Maly Theatre of Russia Boris Nikolayevich Lyubimov (below you may find the recording of his speech).

The conference was hosted by Nadezhda Telegina, Deputy Head of Creativity and Information Centre and Head of the A.I.Sumbatov-Yuzhin's Memorial Apartment, Vera Tarasova.

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During the seminar, the following presentations were made:

Iftodiy Yuliya Igorevna, Senior Researcher, A.A. Bakhrushin State Central Theater Museum - A.P. Lensky: an actor, a director, a man (letters to his wife)

Gacheva Anastasia Georgievna, Head of the Museum and Excursion Department of the Library No. 180 (The Museum - Library of N.F.Fedorov), Doctor of Philology – «The secret of fraternity lies within our fathers». A.P. Lensky and N.F. Fedorov

Andrienko Anna Valerevna, Freelance member of the «Contemporary Drama» magazine, journalist - V.Ya. Bryusov and the Maly Theatre

Shalimova Nina Alekseevna, Professor of the Russian Institute of Theatre Arts (GITIS), Doctor of Art Studies - А.P. Lensky and A.I. Yuzhin as the leaders of the troupe: the problems of artistic leadership

Bronnikova Elena Vladimirovna, Chief Specialist of the Russian State Archive of Literature and Arts, Candidate of Historical Sciences – The performances of the Maly Theatre based on the works of Ivan Turgenev starring A.I. Yuzhin («A Nest of Gentlefolk », «A Month in the Country»)

Telegina Nadezhda Vasilievna, Chief Funds Curator, Deputy Head of Creativity and Information Centre of the Maly Theatre - А.I. Yuzhin and A.A. Ostuzhev: In theatre and in life

Korf Alexander Yuryevich, Deputy Head of the Translation Department of UKS Metalloinvest, Candidate of philosophical sciences- A.I. Sumbatov-Yuzhin as remembered by his niece M. A. Boguslavskaya

Lipatova Maria Valerievna, Senior Researcher, A.A. Bakhrushin State Central Theater Museum - Exhibition «A.I. Yuzhin (1857 - 1927)» in 1927. The attempt at reconstruction

Poltavskaya Galina Mikhailovna, Honored Cultural Worker of the Russian Federation, theatre theorist - The history of the founding of the memorial apartment of Prince Alexander Sumbatov-Yuzhin

Koblenz-Nikiforova Anna, Lecturer of the Museum of Entrepreneurs, benefactors and patrons of art, theatre theorist - Moscow addresses of the actors of the Maly Theatre

The Maly Theatre would like to thank all speakers for their inspiring and timely insights.

Dear guests,

We'd like to inform you that an additional performance of Pyotr Karatygin's «Mysterious Chest» is scheduled for November 29th. The performance shall start at 7 p.m.

The tickets can be purchased at the theatre box office or on-line, on Maly Theatre's official website. Looking forward to seeing you!

Dear friends,

We would like to share with you a story about the Maly Theatre that aired on Public Television of Russia channel. Watch our piece starting from 5:20.

Dear friends,

We are happy to announce that we are launching ticket sales for December 2017 and January 2018 shows on our website.

Tickets for performances of the Maly Theatre may be purchased on the theatre's website or at the box office.

Please be advised that the Maly Theatre does not work with any ticket brokers (private parties or companies), except forTicketland.ru and Bigbilet.ru.

Be vigilant, don’t fall victim to the scammers!

Dear friends,

The 2017 Annual Theatre Award «Star of the Theater-goer» shortlist has been announced. The actor of the Maly Theatre Aleksey Konovalov, who plays Brighella in «The Servant of Two Masters» by Carlo Goldoni is among the nominees for the award. Let's help Aleksey win the award!

VOTE NOW

On October 17 a roundtable on relevant issues of contemporary theatre took place at the Maly Theatre in the context of the tour of Irkutsk academic drama theatre named after N. P. Okhlopkov. A number of eminent theatrical figures, literary critics and actors of Okhlopkov drama theatre that presented Valentin Rasputin’s «Farewell to Matyora» to Moscow audience on the eve of the discussion took part in it.

Photos by Nikolay Antipov

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