Musical "Dance of the Vampires": reviews, summary, actors

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

"Dance of the Vampires" is a popular musical based on the film directed by Roman Polanski. Invented in the early nineties, the performance continues to live and delight the audience to this day. What is the secret of the success of the production, how the history of the formation of the play developed, who was involved in its creation - about this in our article.

Theatrical season news

In August 2016, all gourmets of theatrical art were pleased with the news that the musical "Dance of the Vampires" was returning to the stage of the St. Petersburg Musical Comedy Theater. Tickets from the theater box office sold out in the very first days of sales. And all this is because the performance has already managed to earn the love of the viewer - for three seasons, the performance was sold out on the stage of the theater. In July 2014, the last performance was played. The theater management promised all lovers of the musical that this was not a farewell, but just a small parting. And here is another sensation!

Fans of the musical performance in the new season were to meet with the world of magic andbeloved characters within a month and a half. The opening of the new theater season was scheduled for August 22, 2016 in the cultural capital of Russia. The final musical in St. Petersburg was played on October 2, 2016. But the performance did not end its existence. He expands the territory of his march across the country. From October 29, 2016 "Dance of the Vampires" (musical) - in Moscow!

I must say that the musical production has undergone some changes: before the new season, the production team conducted a selection of actors - future performers of the main characters, and new faces appeared in the theater troupe.

Young vocal performers took the stage together with the already well-known artists-stars of the genre Ivan Ozhogin, Elena Gazaeva, Alexander Sukhanov.

Fyodor Osipov, Elizaveta Belousova (pictured) - these are the new representatives of the acting environment involved in the production of "Dance of the Vampires". The music used in the performance belongs to Jim Steinman. The musical director of the musical remained the same. This is the well-known permanent Aleksey Nefedov.

The play premiered in Russia in September 2011. Prior to this, the musical won the hearts of the European audience. In general, it all started with the idea of Cornelius B althus to bring to life the story told in 1967 in the film of the same name directed by Roman Polanski.

Roman Polanski. Who is he?

The film created by Roman Polanski ("Dance of the Vampires") can be called a cult today, but the recognition of the picture did not happen immediately. It wasa time when she was considered one of the film director's failed jobs.

Roman Polanski is a well-known filmmaker who, having Jewish roots, spent most of his childhood in Poland, and worked mainly in the UK, France and the United States of America.

The results of his many years of work have been recognized by world film critics and awarded with such prestigious awards as the Palme d'Or in Cannes, the Golden Bear in Berlin. The Golden Lion of the Venice Film Festival, as well as the Oscar and the Golden Globe - Roman Polanski also has these awards in his piggy bank.

“The Vampire Ball” is the first color work of the master, the idea of which was born in a ski resort and was conceived as a fairy tale about vampires. Critics often notice the similarity of the picture with the work of the directors of the Hammer studio or the tapes of Alexander Ptushko, Roger Corman. Roman Polanski does not deny these allegations and admits that he tried to create something similar in Vampire Ball, only with his own vision of what is happening, in a special format - as a kind of sketch for a fairy tale story.

Polanski in the picture adhered to the principle that even a utopia or absolutely not real history should consist of small details that carry information, color, local culture.

Vampire Ball plot

"Dance of the Vampires" - a film, as well as "Dance of the Vampires" - a musical, the summary of which is practically the same, tells the story of the following. Professor Abronsius of the University of Koenigsberg and his student assistant Alfred come toTransylvania in search of a mythical castle in which, according to rumors and legends, the vampire Count Von Krolock lives with his son Herbert. On the way, travelers get acquainted with the family of Yoni Chagall, whose beautiful daughter, Sarah, immediately falls in love with Alfred. Travelers do not receive clear answers to all questions from the local population about vampires, but they notice that people are hiding something and are scared of something.

Soon, Chagall's daughter Sarah disappears without a trace, in search of which the professor and his assistant set off. Travelers do not have to wander through the forest for a long time; a majestic castle appears before their eyes. They meet the intelligent and highly educated owner of the palace, Von Krolock, who invites them to stay for some time in the castle. At night, the men go to the vampire ball, find Sarah and try to escape from the feast of evil spirits. The professor and his assistant do not yet know that Sarah is doomed - she has become a vampire and, taking her away from the castle, they only help evil spread around the world.

In no way does the viewers get confused by the similar content of the film "The Vampire's Ball". The reviews of the viewers only testify to the fact that the tape resonated in the hearts of the viewer. People perceive the film as something fabulous, good, albeit with elements of the forces of evil.

Interesting facts

According to the idea of Roman Polanski, the shooting of the picture was to take place in Switzerland. Once in the country, the director spotted a very beautiful castle there. However, it was not possible to agree with the owners of the fortress - they did not allow work to be carried out in their possessions. Roman Polanski had to urgently change his plans. It wasdecided to go to Italy and look for suitable natural landscapes there. By the way, the pavilion shooting was carried out in the UK (in London).

Working on a painting is generally associated with many interesting moments, funny and unusual situations. For example, in order to recreate the necessary atmosphere of a ball with vampires, it took a huge number of coffins. Their production was entrusted to Italian artisans, because it was in Italy that the shooting of the picture took place. Making the film threatened to disrupt the local tourism business, as stacks of coffins frightened incoming tourists, who thought that there was a dangerous epidemic in the area that was taking people's lives. The owners of local taverns had to try to put the tourists to rest - only special signs and messages explaining what was happening were able to stabilize the situation.

In the USA, a rather modified picture "Dance of the Vampires" was released. The duration of the tape was reduced, the name was changed, and these innovations were not agreed with Roman Polanski, who subsequently did not recognize this version as his film (an explanation of these facts is just below).

Additional color to the picture was created thanks to the original MGM screensaver, in which the lion turned into a vampire.

Viewer reaction

Talented artists on the set were united by the picture "Dance of the Vampires". The actors who played the main roles in the film were already known to the world. Professor Abronsius, for example, was played by Jack McGowran, the image of Alfred's assistant in the cinema was created by Roman Polanski himself, Ferdie Mayne appeared inIn the image of Count Von Krolock, the beautiful Sarah Chagall was played by Sharon Tate, an actress who later became the wife of a film director. By the way, the filming period for Polanski was the happiest and most memorable in his life.

Until the beginning of the 90s, the director's picture was not considered successful. Polanski's vision of making a serious and gripping vampire tale filled with detail and culture failed. The film was seen as a farce. It was shown at the American box office under the title "The Fearless Vampire Killers". Unceremonious interference was subjected to the film "Dance of the Vampires". The actors did not speak in their own voices - their dialogues were dubbed; various scenes with a total duration of about 20 minutes were cut from the timing. The public perceived the picture as a "parody" on a special genre of cinema - stories about vampires. For a long time, this is how the Vampire Ball was perceived by society. However, the time has come and everything has changed.

In the nineties, based on the film, the musical "Dance of the Vampires" was created, which successfully swept the theater scenes in Europe. From that moment on, the Polanski tape was looked at in a new way. She played in the minds of the viewer with other colors.

The idea of making a musical

Once a friend of Roman Polanski, producer Andrew Braunsberg, suggested that the director put on a musical based on his film. To bring the idea to life, it was necessary to do a huge job - to completely reshape the Vampire Ball. The text was to be turned into a special dramaturgy. It was necessary to write poetry, to come up withscenes that would convey the atmosphere of the film. We needed unusual music, characteristic, creating a mood. The composers were faced with the task of composing arias and musical parts for many characters.

Masters of their craft - composer Jimm Steinman and Michael Kunze - librettist were involved in the work on the musical. Thanks to their abilities, the main characters of the play seemed to come to life. The effect of their music is such that from the first notes the viewer gets into the characters of the production, feels the dangerous and so attractive Count Von Krolock, empathizes with the beautiful Sarah, who is tired of a boring life and who dreams of plunging into the abyss of temptation and changing something in fate.

The musical accompaniment of the theatrical performance combines classics and rock, and this explosive mixture cannot but catch the viewer. Not surprisingly, the musical became popular in the blink of an eye. Theater gourmets around the world have appreciated the work of a huge team of professionals. Vampire's Ball took four years to complete, resulting in over 200 unique wigs, costumes, and makeup.

The musical turned out to be very rich and impetuous - during the three-hour performance, the scenery on the stage changes 75 times. It is also interesting that vampire jaws were made for forty performers using a special technology.

What the theatrical audience saw

In 1997, the premiere of the musical "Dance of the Vampires" took place. The duration of the performance was three hours, and at first the organizers of the show were worried howthe audience in the hall of the Raimund Theater in Austria would not get bored. However, the team's fears were not confirmed. The performance turned out to be so exciting that the audience enthusiastically demanded that the artists take the stage again and again.

Since then, the performance has traveled the best theater scenes in the world. A huge number of fan clubs have been created on the Internet, within which fans share information, exchange thoughts and impressions of watching the musical, and look for travel companions in order to see all possible versions of the play in different parts of the world.

Of course, like any work, the musical has both fans and opponents. Someone has a negative attitude to the theme of vampires, which is affected by the play. However, the vast majority of viewers are delighted with the action taking place in the musical production of "Dance of the Vampires". The reviews of numerous Internet users are proof of this. There are many who have watched the production 15–20 times and have not lost interest in it. Only thanks to the love of the audience, the performance continues to live.

The first performer of the role of Count Von Krolock - Steve Barton - is still popular and loved by the audience. Kevin Tarte and Jann Ammann play the charming villain in Germany, Geza Edházy in Hungary, and Drew Sarich in Austria.

In 2009, the performance underwent some changes, and the modern edition of the production is known as the Vienna one. What has changed? It is believed that the innovations made the performance even more striking: the Hungarian artist Kentaur created gothic scenery, costumes for artists, and makeup.

But not only because of the magic colorsplayed "Dance of the Vampires." The music has also changed. Michael Reid wrote fresh arrangements for the musical material, world-famous choreographer Dennis Callahan gave grace to the movements and perfected the dance numbers.

Russian version of the musical

In 2011, the premiere of the play "Ball of the Vampires" took place on the Russian stage. The Musical Comedy Theater of St. Petersburg invited everyone to plunge into the atmosphere of magic and appreciate the plot of musical interpretation based on the content of Roman Polanski's feature film "Dance of the Vampires". The main scene in the performance is the battle between the forces of good and evil at a ritual ball. In this battle, two scientists converge against a vampire pack - they are fighting for life and for love.

The Viennese version of the performance was specially adapted for the Russian audience - the poems and libretto were translated into their native language, and a team of performers of the main characters of the musical was recruited through castings.

In total, over the course of three years, the actors played about 280 performances, more than 220,000 people witnessed the action, which tells the "Ball of the Vampires". Reviews of the audience - enthusiastic and laudatory - confirm the success of the musical. However, the production won not only the love of the viewer, but also the recognition of critics. The overall assessment of the performance was marked by high theatrical awards: the Golden Mask, the Golden Soffit, as well as various awards, such as the St. Petersburg Government Prize, as well as the Musical Heart of the Theatre.

The first stage of the procession across Russia of the performance "Ball of the Vampires" (St. Petersburg Theatermusical comedy) ended on July 31, 2014.

This evening, all the actors involved in the performance took the stage: three sets of vocalists appeared before the eyes of the audience. In the final of the musical, all the participants and creators of the production were presented, including the orchestra, backing vocalists, costume designers, make-up artists, lighting, choreographer.

But that was not the end of the story. By popular demand of the audience in the 2016-2017 season. the performance returned to the stage of the Musical Comedy Theater in St. Petersburg.

Cast

It must be said that the success of the musical "Dance of the Vampires" among the audience is largely due to the talent of the actors involved in the production. It is not for nothing that applicants-vocalists who wish to participate in the performance, before getting into the troupe, undergo the most severe selection. The criteria by which participants are compared are very diverse. And it's not just vocals. Everything is important: the ability to move, the ability to stand out from the crowd, as well as work in a team, work for results.

The actors who participated in the performance not only gained tremendous experience in their profession, but also largely predetermined their future fate. Today they are popular and in high demand.

Ivan Ozhogin - Count Von Krolock - originally from Ulyanovsk. He has a huge experience of participating in such musical performances. The actor's career began in 2002, immediately after graduating from GITIS. Ozhogin's track record is filled with roles in the musicals Nord-Ost, Chicago, The Phantom of the Opera, Beauty and the Beast. ATfor three years - from 2011 to 2014 - he played the main role in the play "Ball of the Vampires" (Musical Comedy Theater of St. Petersburg).

Today the actor works not only in Russia, but also abroad: gives solo concerts; performs with symphony orchestras. In addition, Ivan Ozhogin is a soloist of the Cossack choir led by Pyotr Khudyakov, as well as a soloist of the Nikolo-Ugreshsky Monastery.

The second wave of the performance "Vampire's Ball" in Russia replenished the theater troupe with new names. After tough selections for the role of the attractive Count Von Krolock, Fedor Osipov was approved in 2016.

The actor comes from Voronezh. There he received a musical education in vocal class and from 2005 to 2011 he worked as a soloist at the State Opera and Ballet Theater in Voronezh.

In December 2011, he was invited to the Musical Comedy Theater of St. Petersburg, where he made his debut as Andrei Tumansky in the operetta "Kholopka".

Then there was work in the performances of The Merry Widow, The Count of Luxembourg, The Woman's Riot, The Bat, and others. Today he is known as the leading actor in the play The Vampire's Ball.

Main characters

In the first part of the production of "Dance of the Vampires" the role of the beautiful Sarah was played by actress Elena Gazaeva. The artist is from Vladikavkaz. In 2006, she received her acting education at the North Ossetian State University. Producers from Moscow noticed her after the girl became the winner of several music competitions, and invitedartist to the capital to participate in the musicals "The Bremen Town Musicians", "Lukomorye", "The Master and Margarita".

For participation in the play "Dance of the Vampires" in the role of Sarah in the Musical Comedy Theater of the city of St. Petersburg, Gazaeva was nominated for the Golden Mask and Musical Heart of the Theater awards. In July 2014, Elena Gazaeva was awarded the title of Honored Artist of North Ossetia. Today she works in the musical Jekyll & Hyde.

In 2016, after numerous castings, actress Elizaveta Belousova was approved for the role of Sarah in the musical "Dance of the Vampires". Feedback on the work of the young actress in the play is positive.

A girl was born in Voronezh, but she works at the Music and Drama Theater at the Petersburg Concert. In addition to participating in the play "Dance of the Vampires", the artist is busy in the musical "Jekyll &Hyde".

The role of the whimsical professor in the musical is played by Honored Actor of Russia Andrey Matveev (pictured); the image of Alfred in love was created with the participation of Igor Krol; Sarah's father, Chagall, is played by Oleg Krasovitsky.

The secret of the performance's success, the audience's love that has not let go for so many years, probably lies in the amazing music, bewitching scenery and the great talent of the people involved in it.