Performance "Royal Games", Lenkom: reviews, content, actors and roles

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

“Royal Games” (Lenkom) is an opera in two parts based on the play “1000 Days of Anne Boleyn” created by Maxwell Andersn in 1948. The original source is based on historical events that took place in reality. They are associated with the reign of Henry VIII - the English king. In the memory of his descendants, he remained a daring libertine and a bloody ruler.

Lenkom staged the play "Royal Games" in 1995 (the premiere was played on October 12 of the same year). The play was staged by Mark Zakharov, and Grigory Gorin became the author of the text. Music composed by Sandor Kaplosh. The duration of the "Royal Games" (Lenkom) is 2 hours 40 minutes. The performance has two acts, between which there is an intermission.

The secret of success

The "Royal Games" of the Lenkom Theater is a truly modern performance. After all, he tells about eternal political intrigues for the world. The play "Royal Games" (Lenkom) receives reviews as a production, in a unique waycombining the conventions of opera and the reality of drama. The performance has long and firmly entered the list of the most popular centenarians. Without it, it is impossible to imagine the repertoire of the theater.

Despite the fact that the premiere of this production took place more than two decades ago, and now the public, as before, buys tickets in advance to watch the "Royal Games" in Lenkom. Feedback from the audience confirms that if you do not take care of this in advance, you can completely be left without the coveted place in the theater hall. After all, many people aspire to see the play.

Stage politics

Many people prefer to live a calm and measured life. However, no matter how they abstract from politics, it invariably invades their souls and everyday life, touching the most hidden strings there. Sometimes politics does not disdain even cynically to break into a person's personal space, while breaking not only his present, but also his future life. In this regard, it becomes impossible to ignore and not notice the processes that take place at the heights of power.

The current inhabitants of the Earth, despite the national identity of the directions of development and destinies, are still interconnected by the common history of the planet. This moment was wonderfully felt by the American playwright Maxwell Anderson and reflected in his play.

The performance "Royal Games" (Lenkom) receives reviews as an action in which the viewer sees all of today's suffering and aspirations, losses and gains in the torments and joys presented oncharacters scene. At the same time, these feelings have gone through an intricate modification and are tried on a new assessment, setting and perception.

Staging genre

What does the play "Royal Games" (Lenkom) receive reviews from critics? When writing their reviews, they note that this production is an opera in its genre, but, in fact, is nothing more than a playwright's work.

The storyline of the performance is inextricably linked with the life story of Henry VIII. This royal person has not ceased to interest writers to this day. And this is not surprising, because this ruler was a rather colorful figure. This is the personality of a rude barbarian and at the same time a philosopher trying to overtake time, a ruthless tyrant and a romantic poet, a subtle politician and an unbridled libertine. Who plays such a multifaceted character in Lenkom's performance "Royal Games?" Reviews of the audience indicate that Alexander Alexandrovich Lazarev is very talented on the stage of King Henry VIII. This is a People's Artist of Russia and a worthy son of his father.

Author Grigory Gorin, taking as a basis a story familiar to many, created either a play or a libretto. What do audience reviews about the Royal Games (Lenkom) say about this? Judging by the opinion of theater fans, the production combined the conventions of opera and the reality of dramatic action. It is nothing more than a free interpretation of the image of the subordination of the fate of man to the monstrousstate machine.

Verbal text, after it reaches a certain degree of impact on the viewer, turns into singing. And it, in turn, at the most culminating moments turns into moans, cries and sobs of love and despair at the same time.

What do reviews say about the play "Royal Games"? The Lenkom Theater is advised to visit those people who want to feel sharp feelings, empathizing with the heroes. The acting is so realistic that no one is indifferent in the audience.

Storyline

The story told by the Lenkom Theater concerns the love story of Henry VIII and the cruel and prudent Anne Boleyn, the daughter of the ruler's treasurer. The described events happened in reality and still excite the souls of people.

At the time of the first meeting with Anna, King Henry VIII was just over thirty years old. He was happily married to Catherine of Aragon. The life of the ruler of England was overshadowed only by the fact that he did not have a son-heir. Of all the children born to the queen, only her daughter Maria (later Bloody Mary) survived. But, nevertheless, the relationship between Catherine and Heinrich, despite his constant short-term hobbies, was quite friendly and warm. After all, the wife was condescending to the adventures of her husband. However, everything changed when a swarthy and dark-haired maid of honor burst into their lives, who was able to trample on not only the he alth, happiness and life of the queen, but also religious traditions, as well as the tranquility of the country as a whole.

Anna charmed Heinrich. He liked everything about the girl. Her luxurious hair and expressiveeyes, a slender and refined figure, a sharp mind, graceful movements, the ability to dress elegantly and impeccably, which she received during her stay in Paris, as well as unbridled passion, guessed in her manner, and even her singing.

Heinrich, being a talented musician himself, could not help but appreciate Anna's virtuoso lute playing, her mesmerizing voice, as well as her refined taste in choosing the songs of her new passion. He was pleased to show her signs of attention, but she rejected all his sighs and offerings.

The king fell in love just madly. However, Anna made it clear that she would never be one of his concubines. She needed to be queen. And Heinrich decided to fulfill the condition of his beloved. But the king was married, and divorce was not easy. He turned to the Pope to give permission for a divorce. Henry was denied this. And then the king of England began to reform the church in his country, challenging religion. According to the newly adopted laws, the Pope completely lost power over the entire Catholic world of Foggy Albion. King Henry VIII became the head of the newly created Anglican Church. After that, he was able to divorce and marry Anne Boleyn. However, the king's hopes for the appearance of an heir did not come true. Anna bore him a daughter. Soon the marriage, which lasted only 1000 days, fell apart. At this time, Heinrich was already carried away by the simple Jane Seymour. Subsequently, the girl will become his next wife. But he decided to get rid of Anna. Henry accused Boleyn of adultery and treasonstate, ordering her beheaded.

At the end of the performance, a fair-haired girl appears on the stage. This is Anna's daughter. She says the phrase "Elizabeth will be the First".

This story is the brightest and most unusual love story known to the world. And the little girl Elizabeth, whom Anna left behind, later became one of the greatest rulers of Foggy Albion. In doing so, she led the English kingdom to prosperity and peace.

This is a summary of the "Royal Games" (Lenkom).

Actors

Games of kings are always something alluring and terrible. After all, the one who takes part in them can receive a crown and a throne or be on the block of an executioner. This cruel play of passions became for the authors of the production fertile material for the stage fantasy they created.

Dramatic actors of the performance "Royal Games" (Lenkom) suddenly unexpectedly, but boldly took part in the opera. The production was successfully played:

- Alexander Lazarev, as well as Semyon Shkalikov (as Heinrich);

- Anna Bolshova, as well as Svetlana Ilyukhina (as Anna), - Ivan Agapov (Norfolk);

- Pavel Kapitonov (Cromwell);

- Victor Rechman (as Thomas Boleyn);

- Elena Stepanova (as Mary Boleyn);

- Oleg Knysh (servant);

- Ekaterina Migitsko, as well as Natalia Omelchenko (housekeeper);

- Yuri Kolychev (Wolsey);

- Sergei Dyachkovsky, Konstantin Petukhov (Lord Percy);

- Lyubov Matyushina (as Elizabeth Boleyn);

- Olga Zinoviev,Natalya Shcherbinkina (singing maid of honor);

- Sergey Dyachkovsky and Alexei Skuratov (as Henry Norris);

- Sergey Dyachkovsky and Dmitry Groshev (Mark Smithson);

- Natalia Omelchenko, Anna Zaikova, Esther Lamzina (Jane Seymour);

- Marina Korolkova;

- Gennady Kozlov, Vladimir Kuznetsov (Thomas More);

- Alexander Gorelov, Gennady Kozloa (Bishop Fisher);

- Kirill Petrov and Andrey Leonov (as Thomas Wyer);

- Pavel Kapitonov (Thomas Cromwell);

- Sergey Yuyukin, Alexander Salnik, Igor Konyakhin, Vitaly Borovik, Evgeny Boytsov, Maxim Amelchenko, Sergei Alexandrov (Cromwell's henchmen);

- Vera Telegina, Lena Starshinova (Elizabeth the First);

- Vitaly Borovik and Anatoly Popov performed a courtier's dance;- Mykola Parfenok (musician with lute).

In addition, the following actors took part in the play "Royal Games" in Lenkom:

- Anatoly Abramov, who performed the drum solo;- Anzhelika Voropaeva and Maria Plekhova, as well as Vladimir Kalitvyansky and Zhanna Terekhova, who played the oboe, flute and cello.

Reviews about the performance (2017) "Royal Games" in Lenkom confirm that even now its relevance remains at the highest level. The audience is satisfied with the action they saw, where the actors throw sharp shocking remarks, and their game takes place with a scenography that strikes with its novelty. At the same time, the beauty of the costumes created for the performance was noted. The viewer is fascinated by the idea of the author of the opera The Royal Games (Lenkom). Actors and roles in it are endowed with both tenderness and rudeness, vulgarity andsophistication. And the farce and tragedy seen on stage serve as another reminder that life, however cruel, is still nothing but a game.

What is typical for the play "Royal Games" (Lenkom)? Actors, scenery, costumes, music - everything is connected in one whole. Spectators note the slight movement of the white canopy curtain, which has many folds and is located in the middle of the stage. All the scenery in the performance changes simultaneously with its action. They adapt to the situation, being not only a children's room, but also a prison in which Anna is located. And sometimes viewers are struck by a snow-white UFO that floats under the very ceiling in the auditorium. Theatre-goers are also pleased with the inexorable pace of the performance, the impeccability of professional actors playing in the play. Many reviews note the masters of Lenkom. So, Heinrich, played by Alexander Lazarev, is so piercing and powerful that it is impossible to predict how he will appear in the next scene - merciless or discouraged, confused or arrogant.

The performance of actor Ivan Agapov (Duke of Norfolk) also impresses the audience. In one person, he appears on the stage as a sage and a jester who makes the audience laugh all the time. Anyone who watched the performance is convinced that without this hero the action would have been reduced to a description of a gloomy tragedy that occurred in the Middle Ages. The charismatic Duke of Norfolk allows you to dilute the overall picture of darkness and horror. And this makes it possible for the viewer to get real pleasure from the performance.

Creativeteam

The performance "Royal Games" (Lenkom) was created by:

- stage director M. Zakharov;

- director Y. Makhaev;

- costume designer Y. Kharikov;

- music director and chief choirmaster I. Musaelyan;

- choreographer A. Molostov;- lighting designer S. Martynov.

Popularity

One can talk endlessly about how successful this performance turned out to be. Even the most severe critic cannot find fault with the production. However, this was not always the case. In the first months after the release of the opera, there were moments that disproved the success of the play in the future. Critics reproached Zakharov for making an attempt to get away from the topicality and turned to old age. But even in 2017, the “Royal Games” (Lenkom) receives reviews as a performance, tickets for which are sold out already when its name appears on posters. After all, the popularity of the play lies in the fact that its main creator, M. Zakharov, managed to discern the sad present in the events of the past. That is why the play "Royal Games" is included in the list of the most magnificent productions of the theater.

It is worth noting that in 1996 the production received the Crystal Turandot theatrical award.

The significance of the character of Henry VIII

Without a doubt, there is no stage in any theater in the world where kings, queens and other titled persons would not appear. The intrigues of the courtiers and the struggle for the throne, royal love and deceit… All this was woven into dramatic plots more than once, inspiring playwrights and making the audience worry.

Certainly, Henry VIII is one of the most famous English kings. A subtle politician and a cruel despot, an unbridled voluptuary and a rude savage, whose instincts often took precedence over reason. It is simply impossible to invent a more colorful figure.

For the first time in the role of a theatrical character, this king of England appeared on stage at the end of the 17th century. in one of Shakespeare's plays. And since then, he has not left the stage of theaters and cinema screens.

The significance of Anne Boleyn's character

To match the English king Henry VII his second wife. In Anne Boleyn, passions can be found no less than in her wife. In the soul of a woman there is a constant struggle between the forces of good and evil. Moreover, passions rage with such incredible force that it is simply impossible to express it in words. It is likely that because of this, this character often inspired the composition of operas, symphonies and musical works.

Of course, Heinrich could well be the main character of M. Zakharov's production. However, the author ordered otherwise. Anna Boleyn became the main character in his performance. This strong woman, located in a man's world, aroused the sympathy of the theater audience.

What is this play about?

What do the authors show the audience? In the play you can see:

- the desire for power;

- the willingness of a person to abandon the word that was given to him by another;

- the ability not to think about the unfortunate woman who was the firstwife of the king and did not give him a son;

- the boomerang rule, which involves the return of everything issued not in one way, but in another way, because Anna became a homemaker for Henry's wife, but an even more terrible fate awaited her;

- proof that a person who has treated someone in a certain way will most likely do the same to you;- the need for prioritization, because it is not completely clear who Heinrich needed more - the heir or beautiful Anna.

For whose sake did the king start the conflict with the church? Of course, for the woman. However, having received it, but not having acquired an heir, Henry decided to execute the one for which he turned the whole world upside down, and the one that until recently was the most desired.

Centuries have passed since the incident. Progress began at a rapid pace. Space has been explored. But this does not mean at all that changes have taken place in human psychology. Just as in the old days, people continue to strive for we alth and power. Still, they are ready to weave intrigues and substitute and kill other people. Just as before, it is impossible to predict in advance what gender the child will be conceived. And still, any person will certainly answer for what he has done. It will happen sooner or later.

Man's life is rather short. It is for him the field that must first be plowed and then sown. And only this will allow you to get a harvest, that is, a result that will show how rationally a person lived in this world, whether he understood the meaning of his existence andwhether he became happy without harming other people.