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THEATRE TOPICS
ARTSLYNX DANCE |
Notes from Anatoli Smeliansky's lecture
on 11/21/1996. Post Communist Russia In The Mirror of Theatre.
Anatoli Smeliansky is the author of Is Comrad Bulgokof Dead? and the Literary Director at The Moscow Art Theatre (MAT) which celebrated its centennial in 1998. He also serves as the MAT's School Director. Note, while in a conversational format, these are just notes taken by Professor Richard Finkelstein and are not direct quotes unless indicated with quotation marks. Use the "UP" button to the left to return to DIRECTING RESOURCES Theatre itself is a mirror. When I met with Tony Church of The Denver Center Theatre Company, he was surprised by the positive news that I had to share (along with the negative) of the state of the arts in Russia. Why is your press only interested in negative news? Ten years ago, Gorbachov "ruined communism". In the 10 years since, lots of good has hapened. Perhaps the press has been negative because Russians themselves traveling to your country have been negative. Russians are experts at predicting disaster. . . Especially as Americans pay for that information! How has art reflected the past ten years? The past ten years have seen many eras. Change is happening very fast. First years reflected a "euphoria of freedom". Next we had the hangover. "And you [America] should pay for our hangover". For one hundred years we've been dreaming of freedom. Now some long for soviet power and freedom too. Not possible. There is no predictability anymore. . . like America before income tax. We now experience the "Paradox of freedom". Euphoria led to bitterness because it brought not only freedom. Artists no longer feel so important. Before, "All these missiles... just for me"! Before, Solzinisen became a hero after he was thrown out... for writing a book ... they didn't publish. He came back and his first mistake was to arrange his return. "Russian writer should suffer, be in prison... or at least in exile". "He's with BBC journalist, too comfortable". "We don't like writers who try to preach. Its enough. Russians are fed up with ideology and teachers." "Freedom means 'I spit on your ideas'. All your pictures and ideas have failed." Freedom lowered the social status of artists. The whole nation stopped listening to them. Artists feel like they are in the void of nonrecognition. Many artists are now longing for the days of censorship. Many great Soviet playwrights stopped writing. "Now that the wall was destroyed what do you fight now?" Theatre of struggle and hatred makes great theatre. Russians are no longer interested in American issues. They don't understand issues like "sexual harassment" or homosexuality for these issues had never before been discussed in public. Russians don't understand how a whole nation quit smoking. Theatre is now of a lower social status. Meanwhile, all of a sudden the whole politburo are now religious believers <G>. Before, The Church had been a part of the KGB. Now it is funded thru trade of cigarettes and vodka. How many masterpieces have YOUR freedom brought? In Russia, it has bought none in the last 10 years. Our freedom is not inspiring. After the Russian revolution there was great art because there were great beliefs. Wait though, it's only been ten years. Wait for a while. Stanislavski's New studio was launched in 1920 during a time of great bloodshed. Stanislavski was asked to define what theatre should be like in such times. His reply: "Lighter, simpler, higher, more joyful". Don't capitalize suffering. Audience Question: How is the Moscow Art Theatre now funded? Answer: There are still 600 subsidized theatres in Russia. The structure is still the same. But only 20% of these theatres are still operating under subsidies. "So now theatres doing strange businesses". The Moscow Art Theatre now operates three restaurants and one rock club. "Now Chekhov is trying to compete with rock club"! Our other theatre has a nightclub. No one is interested in archives anymore. But new aud of mafia types coming, especially for theatres w/ casinos or nightclub. Now priorities are reversed. It's now the theatre of the nightclub. Why 600? Est by Bolshevics to replace church "because they were very clever guys". Theatre forms congregation. Look at plan of Moscow and cities! Police, Prison, Theatre, together. Russian way of life. Best Soviet theatres replaced the church. Democracy doesn't need theatre as a tool of propaganda. We need a new system now but may have started with the wrong button. Despite horrible things, great joy of creating a new life. Q: will Russian theatre sink as low as ours? A: To most Russians theatre is only Broadway. Now 3d Opera first Russian Broadway show. Advertised as most expensive show. Most expensive tickets. Only nouveau riche. Untheatrical audience, cell phones, pagers, etc. Tickets are $60. "Businessmen turn off your cell phones and pagers. If you want to show off your power, do it at intermission. This way of Broadway will be the death of Russian theatre. 3d opera is about two gangs of bandits. That's why they did it. It's about contemporary Russia." Consequences of freedom. Freedom is very difficult. First time in Russian history. Q: Women playwrights? A: Yes. 4 or five. No directors though. Q: How these view the situation? A: Ludmilla Petroschevska is our best playwright now. She is not interested in politics but in humdrum real life. She is great at listning for language of life. Incredible work. Translations of her work are available in English. Q: Checkhov now? A: Chekhov is now interpreted in new ways. We have a New Chekhov now. Q: What Foreign Playwrights are popular in Russia. A: Shepard Mammet Williams Miller Neal Simon, Stoppard, Beckett, Ionesco. Trying to fill the gaps left from repression. |
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