The head of the Moscow Department of Culture, Alexey Fursin, awarded the actor Evgeny Pavlov
Photo: Anastasia PLESHAKOVA. Go to Photobank KP
They work, as they say now, in collaboration, two large, completely different teams. For now they look at each other, but they do it under the same roof: in a building in Chistye Prudy. Under the unity of command (since June) of its general leader, Vladimir Mashkov. “THAT Sovremennik is a unity of individuals” is his creative motto.
Sovremennik started its 69th season and Tabakerka started its 39th season. The age difference is 30 years. But “Tabakerka” is now at its creative best.
Two companies, Sovremennik and TOT, as well as students of the Oleg Tabakov Theater School (Mashkov heads the school, not to mention the STD prize and the Golden Mask) almost completely filled the auditorium of the main stage of Sovremennik. This is called overselling. The journalists were crowded against the wall: there were not enough places. The Sovremennik artists supported the wall with representatives of the media. You could tell that they felt a little like guests, despite being at home. But these, as Mashkov said, are “the proposed circumstances.”
Alexey Fursin, head of the Moscow Department of Culture, arrived at the meeting of the two companies. We start with a greeting:
“I recently attended a meeting of another theater group, which we also joined,” Fursin said. – He asked: how do you work together? And they responded: “okay… we don’t see each other at all.” But here you have a completely different situation…
And the situation is this: both TOT stages are closed for repairs. In spring they promise to open the legendary “basement”, the historical setting of the “Tabakerka” on Chaplygina Street. The new stage on Sukharevskaya Square (which began operating 8 years ago) has already been closed for major renovations. Therefore, Sovremennik became the platform for TOT.
“These are the proposed circumstances today,” Mashkov said again, promising the “Snuffbox” actors a rich life on tour. – We are negotiating with other sites. We do not want your creative life (these words apply to both TOT and Sovremennik) to suffer.
Furthermore, following the tradition of the beginning of the season, we congratulate all those who received titles, awards and recognitions. Then those who had an anniversary in the summer. Then to the young parents: they gave them pink and blue bells.
Alexey Fursin awarded the Sovremennik artist Evgeny Pavlov. Zhenya arrived at the theater dressed in military camouflage. He is one of the few actors who left for the Northern Military District after his mobilization in the fall of 2022. He did not leave the country, he did not escape through Upper Lars, as many, many of his colleagues did, but he honestly went to serve with his civic duty. “Zhenya came on leave. But we are always waiting for it,” Mashkov said. Both troupes applauded the hero.
Alena Babenko looks with admiration at her colleague, actor Evgeny Pavlov, who came on vacation from the Northern Military District.
Photo: Anastasia PLESHAKOVA. Go to Photobank KP
TOT has been working on the Sovremennik stage since mid-September. They have already screened “The Sailor’s Silence” by Alexander Galich. The performance is a legend, it was supposed to open Sovremennik 60 years ago. But it was not opened for censorship reasons. Decades later, this production was directed by Oleg Tabakov and his students. The performer of the role of Abram Schwartz was then Vladimir Mashkov. He still plays this role: “For me, this is a performance of a lifetime.” That is, the connection between era and theater can be traced, a bridge from the past to the present.
Mashkov reminded that October 1 is the birthday of Oleg Efremov, the founding father of Sovremennik. It is planned to stage the play “An Ordinary Story” based on Goncharov’s novel. This title was also once in Sovremennik’s repertoire. Oleg Tabakov acted in the play and Galina Volchek directed it. Therefore, for both theaters the production is symbolic, “impregnated with love, life, passion…”.
Mashkov also talked about the theater boulevard, which should appear sooner or later and along which you can walk “only in clean shoes.” He said that he had been working for a long time to get the “Snuffbox” actors to star in a big, good feature film. And such an opportunity arose: the TOT artists and Mashkov began filming the film “Not on the Lists”, based on the story of Boris Vasiliev. Of the creative plans for the season: “The Elder Son” directed by Elena Lapteva will return to the “Tabakerka” stage. The performance was filmed due to the departure of Sergei Belyaev (he is now an artist of the Chekhov Moscow Art Theater). Although it is not yet known who will play Sarafanov in his place. Gorky’s play “The Bourgeois”, which was also canceled (due to low public interest), will return to the Sovremennik stage, although this is the premiere of last season. But Mikhail Efremov’s production of “Dumas” was irrevocably removed from the repertoire.
– There is no task of simply filming a performance. But you must look at your work honestly and objectively. Some will remain in the repertoire and others will leave,” Mashkov warned. – If acting is dead, then there is no point in holding on to it. The main thing is not quantity, but quality.
Among the immediate plans: rehearsals for the play “Call Sign “Silence” will begin.”
“This project was born after a meeting with the participants of the Northern Military District,” said Mashkov. – A story about our contemporaries. Here is Zhenya (Evgeny Pavlov) sitting in the hallway. He is our contemporary. Both companies will participate in this work.
On December 19 we will celebrate Galina Borisovna Volchek’s birthday. In his honor we will perform the comedy “The Inspector General” (produced by “Snuffbox”). Galina Borisovna watched our performance. And it made a surprising and unforgettable impression on him. And we need to communicate with our heavenly leaders – Galina Borisovna and Oleg Pavlovich (Tabakov).
For the Great Victory I would like to make an epic canvas. A big show full of people. This will be an unexpected and very correct story, in which artists from Sovremennik, the Oleg Tabakov Theater and students of the Theater School will participate…
Friends, we have embarked on a new path in the hope of cooperation,” Mashkov concluded.
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