The Sovremennik Theatre, the play "Amsterdam": reviews, actors, content

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

The Sovremennik play Amsterdam, with reviews of which you can read in this article, is one of the most visited in Moscow at the moment. The basis for the plot was Alexander Galin's play "Parade", which tells about self-awareness and freedom of choice. The director of "Amsterdam" was Sergei Gazarov.

The history of the appearance of the production in the repertoire of the Sovremennik Theater

For all civilized people, Amsterdam and its inhabitants are associated with such concepts as tolerance and tolerance. This was the reason for choosing the work of A. Galin as a source of plot for the premiere performance of Sovremennik. The authors of the cheerful and at the same time bitter "Amsterdam" set out to push the public to think about sore and topical issues about homosexuality, and it seems that to some extent they managed to bring their plans to life.

Despite the ambiguity and provocation of many scenes, a talented troupe led by S. Gazarovwas able to keep the line between genuine art and a cheap fake. Also, you will not hear an unequivocal answer to screaming questions from the characters of the performance, but you will definitely think about it, you will sincerely empathize and have fun from the bottom of your heart. Actress Alena Babenko, who plays a key female role, identified the theme of "Amsterdam" and the attempt of members of modern society to find mutual understanding with each other, since irreconcilable extremes only seem to be so until we face them face to face.

General information about the production

The cast of "Amsterdam" and the characters: Mikhail Efremov (Skvortsov), Alena Babenko (Larisa), Shamil Khamatov (Victor), Evgeny Pavlov (Dolores), Daria Belousova (Karina), Victoria Romanenko (Marina).

Alexei Aigi (composer), Sofya Kruglikova (musical arrangement), Gulshan Oleinikova (director's assistant), Oleg Plaksin (director's assistant), Alla Kozhenkova (costumes and set design), Olga Pshenitsyna and Alexander Matsko (choreographers), Anatoly Kuznetsov (lighting designer).

The duration of the play "Amsterdam" is 3 hours. The performance includes one intermission. The script is written in the comedy genre, the first action is built solely on humor, which cannot be said about the second part. After the intermission, the audience will have to look at their values and beliefs from a different angle. Only adults are allowed to watch the performance. Tickets for the play "Amsterdam" can be purchased orbook in several ways:

• online on the official website of Sovremennik;
• at the following addresses: Chistoprudny Boulevard, 19, Red Square, 3 (TH "GUM"), Zhuravlev Square, 1 ("Palace on the Yauza");
• by phone or e-mail, indicated in the official sources of the theater.

The idea and content of the play

"Amsterdam" tells the viewer the story of a successful Yekaterinburg businessman Skvortsov, who survived perestroika, the difficult 90s and other features of life in Russia. The protagonist and his wife Larisa send their son Victor to study in London. Over time, the couple learn that their only child went with his friend to Amsterdam to attend a gay parade.

The actors of the performance make you think: why are representatives of sexual minorities so bold, bright and joyful? E. Pavlov's character Dolores is a collective image of people who, with all their might and under any circumstances, maintain goodwill, avoid quarrels, insults, screams, slamming the door and other standard reactions of a person with a normal orientation. Perhaps because LGBT representatives have overcome a personal hell consisting of the severity of self-determination and recognition of this to oneself, misunderstanding and rejection of such a situation by relatives, and now they are better able to realize what is worth spending precious time on and what is not worth spending life on. In any case, after watching "Amsterdam" we have to mentally answer the only question: do we have the right to condemn someone based on views and ways of life that are different fromours?

Mikhail Efremov

The actor is an Honored Artist of Russia. Until 1987 he was a student of the course of V. Bogomolov at the Moscow Art Theater School. After graduation, he became the organizer and artistic director of the Sovremennik-2 theater. Over the years of its existence, Efremov took part in the productions of "Slap", "The Seventh Labor of Hercules" and "Shadow". He worked on the projects "Citizen Poet" and "Mr. Good", which were released on the Rain channel.

The actor of the play "Amsterdam" Mikhail Efremov played more than a hundred roles in the cinema. He took part in the following productions of Sovremennik: Three Sisters, Barrel Organ and Anarchy. He served in the theaters "School of the modern play" and the Moscow Art Theater. A. P. Chekhov.

Alena Babenko

Honored Artist of the Russian Federation studied at Tomsk State University at the Faculty of Cybernetics and Mathematics. Later she became a student of the All-Russian Institute of Cinematography named after S. A. Gerasimov (workshop of A. V. Romashin). A. Babenko is involved in the following productions of the Sovremennik Theater: Enemies. Love Story", "Time for Women", "Pygmalion", "Three Sisters", "Autumn Sonata", "Late Love" and "Amsterdam".

The filmography of the actress has more than twenty roles. Thanks to her character Vera from the film "A Driver for Vera", Babenko received four awards. In 2011, the actress was awarded the "Idol" award (staged "Enemies. A Love Story", the role is Jadwiga). Alena Babenko also took part in the plastic drama The Rooms("Art-Piter") directed by choreographer O. Glushkov.

Evgeny Pavlov

The actor is a graduate of the Yaroslavl State Theater Institute (course of V. S. Shalimov). In 2007 he joined the Sovremennik troupe. The current repertoire of E. Pavlov includes such performances: “Woe from Wit”, “Three Sisters”, “Autumn Sonata”, “Pygmalion”, “Playing … Schiller!”, “Lady”, “Amsterdam”, “Enemies. Love Story” and “Three Comrades”.

At the moment, the artist has played in the following films: "Soldiers", "Split", "How to Breed a Millionaire" and "Mysterious Passion". In other theaters, Pavlov worked on the performances "Difficult Parents" (role - Michel) and "Dreams of the Poet Levitansky" (role - Ironic Man). In 2008 he was awarded the Moskovsky Komsomolets Prize for his production of Woe from Wit.

Positive feedback about the play "Amsterdam" in "Sovremennik"

Most of the viewers who managed to see the production were satisfied with the cast. Buying a ticket to Amsterdam is worth at least in order to enjoy the artistry of Mikhail Efremov, his amazing ability to convey drama with the help of a comedic image. Rave reviews about the performance of "Sovremennik" "Amsterdam" are not complete without mentioning the amazing and bright performance of Yevgeny Pavlov in the role of Dolores. His enthusiasm, plasticity and dancing in heels will remain in your heart forever. "Amsterdam" is the kind of performance that makes us laugh to tears, while carrying the deepest meaning with its content.

Fans of quality productions will also notice the well-chosen music for the comedy. All spectators unanimously praise the costume designer Alla Kozhenkova, as she created bright outfits for each character that perfectly fit the plot.

Disapproving reviews

Not all reviews of the play "Amsterdam" in "Sovremennik" turned out to be good. They are an order of magnitude smaller than the positive ones, but still we will pay attention to them. Among the public there were people who called the production vulgar and uninteresting. Some considered the cost of tickets too high. Others found the performance too long and boring in some places.