Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Moscow Government – Moscow Government –
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At the theater "Contemporary" the premiere of the play took place The Marriage of Balzaminov — one of the most anticipated new productions of the season. Director Sergei Gazarov used two comedies from Alexander Ostrovsky's trilogy of the same name in his production: "Your Dogs Fight, Don't Bother Yours" and "What You Go Looking For, That's What You Find." In this mos.ru article, we discuss his vision of this story, who the protagonist has become for him, and the development process behind the play.
The theme of happiness and its search
Alexander Ostrovsky's play, written in 1861, revolves around a minor official, Mikhail Balzaminov, who dreams of marrying a wealthy bride. His dreams are so powerful that they haunt him even in his sleep—in them, he mingles with high society and appears as a brilliant cavalier, smitten with the most beautiful women.
The play begins with Balzaminov's dream. Mikhailo sees a lavish ball framed by flowers of the most delicate shades, brides seemingly ready to walk down the aisle at any moment, phantasmagorical images that fit seamlessly into the plot.
True, the beautiful, pathetic dream ends abruptly and in a very mundane way—and this gives the story a special comic quality, successfully emphasizing the contrast between dreams and reality.
"Alexander Ostrovsky's play is multi-layered, grand, and vast," says Sergei Gazarov. "It has so many layers, and every director finds their own interpretation. For me, the main theme of this story is happiness and the search for it. Balzaminov's dreams are about this. I call him the Russian Don Quixote, because his life was very similar."
Another hero
Sergei Gazarov made the main character more mature than in the play or the famous 1964 film starring Georgy Vitsin: here, Balzaminov is not 25, but in his early 40s. Actor Dmitry Smolev, who played the lead role, didn't watch the film before rehearsals—in his opinion, it's a completely different story.
His portrayal of Balzaminov is a mature man, with a well-established worldview and a firm grasp of his purpose. But sometimes he's not averse to a little fooling around: when Krasavina, the matchmaker, drags him around by the scruff of the neck like a kitten, he doesn't put up much of a fight. At that moment, he becomes like a boy, acquiescing to his elders, on whom his well-being depends.
Unable to withstand the matchmaker's pressure, Balzaminov reads poetry to the merchant's wife, Belotelova (Natalya Kachalova), and declares his love. And for the first time, it seems, he doubts his ambitious dreams when Belotelova, overcome with emotion, refuses to let go of her "groom," literally blocking any escape route.
"There were many funny moments during rehearsals when we, the actors, found it difficult to get back into the work seriously, and this was one of them," notes Dmitry Smolev.
Vivid images
People's Artist of Russia Marina Neyolova plays Krasavina's matchmaker. Costume designer Maria Borovskaya created a striking look for her: fiery red hair and a dress to match. The heroine alternates between sternly admonishing Balzaminov and tenderly admonishing the merchant's wife, gently tapping her hand with an elegant fan: "…And I've done everything for you, except maybe cod liver oil!"
All the outfits were created using 19th-century patterns. Natalia Kachalova's dress alone is remarkable—she could completely disappear in its full skirt. The scene in which the actress does this is also quite comical: frightened by Balzaminov, who is peering over the fence on stilts, the merchant woman covers her head with her crinoline, like a dome.
The scenery changes several times during the performance: there is the surreal dream space of the main character, and Belotelova’s cozy garden, and a small town with fences typical of the Russian hinterland.
"Wooden fences like the ones we have on stage can still be found somewhere in Russia," notes Sergei Gazarov. "I recently returned from Kostroma, where Alexander Ostrovsky spent a considerable amount of time, and I realized what inspired him so much. Each plank, lived through, holds the memory of someone's happiness. And we decided to convey this feeling in our performance."
The next performance will be on December 8 and 28. Tickets can be purchased through the service Mosbilet.
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