Mochalov Pavel Stepanovich, actor of the Maly Theater: biography, creativity

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

Pavel Stepanovich Mochalov, whose biography is the subject of this review, is the largest representative of the romantic trend in Russian theatrical art of the first half of the 19th century. His creativity and mastery of impersonation made a strong impression on his contemporaries and largely determined the development of the romantic direction at that time.

Biography

Mochalov Pavel Stepanovich was born into a family of serf artists in Moscow in 1800. His parents played in the home theater of N. Demidov, then his father began to perform at the Moscow Theater, the troupe of which after a while entered the group of imperial theaters. The latter circumstance contributed to the fact that after six years the family was redeemed and received a free. The future famous artist received a good education, studying in a private boarding school, he also studied French. He had a good memory since childhood. According to his daughter, Pavel Stepanovich Mochalov studied at Moscow University for some time, but his name was not found in the lists of students.

Career start

He began to play in 1817 in the theater on Mokhovaya, but then his permanent stagebecame the stage of the Maly Theatre. The end of the 1830s became decisive in the life of the actor, since it was at this time that he played his crowning role of Hamlet, the significance of which was immortalized by V. G. Belinsky in his famous article devoted to the analysis of the actor’s game. But already in the mid-1840s, Mochalov Pavel Stepanovich turned out to be unclaimed due to a change in direction in culture. Romanticism was replaced by realism, in which the impulsive emotional play of the artist was out of place. The artist died in 1848 from a cold in Moscow.

Game Features

It has already been said above that the heyday of the artist's stage activities fell on the era of romanticism. In accordance with this direction, the actor's game was built. Mochalov Pavel Stepanovich built his game on contrasts that brought the audience into emotional delight. He created sharp transitions from violent emotional outbursts to the so-called "Mochalovsky minutes", in which he abruptly interrupted his speech, after which he again began to pronounce his lines, which delighted the audience with such an unexpected and spectacular change. Mochalov Pavel Stepanovich played mainly in the romantic repertoire, although at the beginning of his creative career he paid tribute to classicism, playing several roles from ancient tragedies.

Images

The artist created on the stage a whole series of lone heroes, rebels by nature, who oppose society and challenge social and moral vices. Mochalov (actor) embodied on stage people withstrong characters and passions. For example, he played Georges de Germani in the play "The Life of a Player", where he showed a man who spent his whole life in the game. This character is completely absorbed by it and is no longer able to stop. Then he played Hamlet for the first time, but so far he has not yet achieved the triumph that will come to him in a decade. However, already at this time, the basic principles of his acting are outlined: the image of rebellion, protest, the hero’s rejection of injustice, lies and deceit. According to the memoirs of contemporaries, Pavel Stepanovich Mochalov (1800-1848) himself interpreted his images and roles, commensurating them with his temperament.

The pinnacle of creativity

The most important and best role of the actor is the role of Shakespeare's Hamlet in the new translation, carried out by N. A. Polev. This image is fully consistent with the creative principles and attitudes of the actor, as well as his temperament. In addition, it was this character that best expressed the rebellious beginning that attracted him so much. This work, as mentioned above, is the subject of a special article by Belinsky. According to the critic, Mochalov conveyed the dramatic story of the Danish prince with extraordinary energy.

It should be said that it was the Maly Theater that became the place that glorified the artist. Another of his important work was the role of Chatsky. It was a real event in the cultural life of Moscow. According to the words and memoirs of contemporaries, the actor played this hero as a lone rebel who challengedto the entire famous society. He delivered the final phrase with contempt, as if challenging the conservative circles of the modern environment.

Other works

The roles of the artist were multifaceted, but all of them are united by one characteristic common feature - this is the image of a protest, rebellious beginning in a person who alone opposes the whole society. It was in this spirit that Mochalov embodied other iconic Shakespearean images: Othello, Richard III and others. It was in these parties that the actor could, more than ever, show his multifaceted character and the talent of an outstanding master of disguise. He was also interested in other historical figures. So, he appeared in the image of Don Carlos, the protagonist of the play of the same name by F. Schiller. The rebellious spirit of the works of this famous playwright perfectly matched the nature of the artist. He also played a major role in the author's most famous play, The Robbers. This work has an openly rebellious character, so Mochalov's performances made a revolutionary impression.

The work of poets also attracted the famous actor: he played Aleko in the production of the play "Gypsies", as well as in the play based on the poem "The Fountain of Bakhchisarai". From the above repertoire, it can be seen that the actor was primarily interested in romantic roles. The news has survived that he really wanted to play the main role in Lermontov's drama "Masquerade", but due to the loud and noisy popularity caused by the rebellious spirit, the performance did not take place, censorship did not allow.

Reason for success

The secret of the phenomenalThe popularity of the actor's works lies in their relevance and consonance with time. The fact is that Mochalov adapted the plots of the plays to the requirements and aspirations of the people of his era and his circle. In the 1820s-1840s, rebellious ideas and protest against Russian social reality were in vogue among young people and educated circles, so Mochalov's emotional, partly even daring attacks came at the right time and place. The artist, in addition to talent, also had an amazing ability to capture the interests of the public, which was waiting for the image of strong dramatic personalities. In each image, the artist, in fact, played his contemporaries, in a variety of characters, the audience literally recognized themselves. Such an attitude was quite consistent with the temperament of Mochalov himself, who could not play ordinary people from the crowd with their everyday interests and concerns. He was interested in strong bright personalities, the reincarnation of which always found its audience in the first half of the 19th century. The Maly Theater is often remembered in literature precisely in connection with his work.