"Squanderers" (musical): reviews, actors, authors

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

Musical comedy, or musical, has long been a familiar part of our cultural and entertainment program. Despite the fact that this genre originated in America, he really liked the whole world. Modern art is already unthinkable without original musical performances in terms of staging, scenery and involved actors. "The Wasters," a musical whose reviews are all superlative adjectives, premiered in November 2012.

About the musical

The genre of musical comedy itself is unique. Sometimes critics say that this is a revived operetta. There is some part of the truth in this. But there are some differences:

1. The musical never had its own dramaturgy. All librettos are copied from classical operettas or dramatic works.

2. The musical part of the productions aboundsjazz techniques, deviates from the canons of classical operetta.

3. Often, performances are built on shocking, stunning the viewer.

4. The choreography of the musical is fundamentally different from the salon dances of the operetta.

In general, musicals are much more complex and realistic than classical light operetta productions. This is perhaps the most important difference - a performance can be a comedy, drama, phantasmagoria or tragedy. And the operetta is a light comedy.

An old song in a new way

In 1926, the writer Valentin Kataev wrote a story, which a couple of years later he remade into a script for a drama theater - the play "Squanderers". The musical theater took up this work, and the light was an excellent spectacle. Let's be honest: not every modern viewer is familiar with the name of Valentin Kataev. The first books that come to mind are “The Lonely Sail Whitens” and “The Son of the Regiment”, and not everyone has read his satirical works. But in vain!

For the first time the play was staged by the director of the Moscow Art Theater Gorchakov. These stages were so honored because in 1925 the government announced the fight against embezzlement and embezzlement in the industries of all sectors of the national economy. Kataev at the same time ridiculed philistinism - a tasteless desire for a "beautiful" life.

It should also be noted that "Squanderers" (a musical, reviews of which were printed by all the media immediately after the premiere) were written based on materials from work correspondents who sent their work to satirical magazines. So we can say with full responsibility:the plot is based on real events.

Searching for investors

Despite its considerable age (about 90 years), the play remains relevant to this day. In an interview, Maxim Leonidov, the composer of the music for the musical, said that "the theme of this anecdote" is not only not outdated, but is becoming more and more popular every day, judging by the news programs and headlines of the print media.

According to the author of the libretto and stage director of the modern version, Alexander Shavrin, the musical "Squanderers" (tickets according to the tradition of Broadway for the premiere performance were sold at half price) literally scared off potential investors. The bankers, without hesitation for a second, refused when they heard the name of the future production. Probably, the associations with this word are so strong that no one wanted to finance such a project.

What is the play about

What is the “Squanderers” talking about so terrible? The musical, reviews of which do not go in cycles in the obvious theme of the performance, takes us to the time of the New Economic Policy. The new economic policy is the development of cooperative and entrepreneurial activities, a cheerful life, the desire to surround oneself with "we alth" and "foreign" things, easy dancing and glamour.

It was at this time that Mr. Philipp Stepanovich Prokhorov, the protagonist of the performance, "grabbed" the company's treasury. And, of course, he squandered it. Being the chief accountant, Philip Stepanovich could not pull off his scam on his own. Therefore, his companion appears on the stage - cashier Vanechka.

With stolenmoney they go on the run, looking for a beautiful life, traveling around the country, and find themselves at the center of many unusual stories. The desire to get into high society (according to the laws of the NEP, which consisted of the nobles of the former empire) and take a walk in taverns echoes the cheerful festivities of commoners from Vanechka's homeland. Of course, it was not without the triumph of justice - the robbers were eventually caught and sentenced to five years each.

Adventure, lyrical story, fun - all this is so true to the genre that it is simply impossible to miss the musical "The Wasters". The actors, mostly young and not yet famous, judging by the reviews, perfectly got used to the characters, managed to convey the extravaganza of time and the phantasmagoria of adventure.

And morality, what is morality

We adopt a lot from Western culture; not finding suitable terms in our language, we attach special importance to foreign ones. So here. The message of the musical is very correct - happiness is nearby, you just have to look around; crazy riches and crazy adventures are not the most important part of our lives. And the pursuit of them often turns into incredible problems and tears.

But what we need, we do not appreciate - the love of a good person, for example. And this is the most precious thing. Understanding such a simple truth comes during the endless runs and adventures of our heroes.

Debut

To write music for his performance, Alexander Shavrin attracted the famous performer and composer of beat hits Maxim Leonidov. Whatturned out "Squanderers"? The musical (viewer reviews are unanimous on this issue) perfectly conveys the era of the 20s of the 20th century. There is also a variety of styles, and dissonances of time (and music), and the recklessness of gypsy festivities, and urban romance, and, of course, Soviet symphony of the beginning of the century. It should be noted that Maxim Leonidov performed for the first time as the author of music for a full-fledged performance. Maxim himself called this musical "a paradise for a composer": light verses, "thieves" songs and romances - this is not the whole arsenal of musicians-performers.

During the casting, it turned out that it was very difficult to find a singing dramatic actor of respectable age. Philip Stepanovich's central aria requires not just vocal abilities, but professional singing skills. Therefore, the composer became the performer of the main role. Alexey Kortnev comes to replace him from time to time.

In the other roles, as already noted, there are no big star names. The production involves young, but already quite famous Ksenia Larina and Anna Guchenkova, Artem Lyskov and Stanislav Belyaev.

Scenery

Telling about the play "The Wasters" (2.5 hour musical), one cannot ignore the scenery. The backdrop changes as many as 29 times! The art of the NEP times is so diverse and free that the decorators could not resist. We also observe experiments inherent in that era on stage: surrealism, cubism, avant-garde … The artist Olga Shagalina (reviews from satisfied viewers fully confirm this) did everything brightly and colorfully,catchy and unusual.

The era of the declaration of freedom

Among other things, the beginning of the 20th century is also significant for the freedom that a woman realized, and most importantly received. Therefore, we like the fashion of those years - lightness, coquettishness, emphasized femininity in every detail of the toilet. Flowing fabrics, light draperies, ruffles, stockings, hats….

Of course, the creators of the performance could not leave this moment aside. The female extras look like a great vaudeville act that will take the breath away from the already amazed and enthusiastic viewer even more.