The play "Diva": reviews, features and interesting facts

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

The premiere of the performance "Primadonnas" in Russia for the first time took place on the stage of the MKUK GDTs "Rodnik" in the city of Volosovo on September 25, 2015. Even then, the production was very fond of the audience, and they left a lot of positive feedback about the play "Diva". In addition to the quality work done on the premiere, theatergoers were attracted by the content of the action. And indeed, the plot of the performance will definitely not make the viewer bored.

Prohibition, jazz and Hollywood

Based on a play by American playwright and director Ken Ludwig, the play is set in the United States during the era of Prohibition. Also known as the era of jazz music, huge black cars, and the rise of the Hollywood movie cluster. Perhaps that's why the comedy looks a bit "cinegenic".

The comedy "Diva" was written in 2004. Ken Ludwig as the author was the first to stage it in the theater stage of his hometown of York. Even then, the play from the public caused laudatory reviews about the performance of "Prima Donna". It is worth noting that it is in this remote town of York that the impressive events of the play take shape.

What is the play about?

The content of the performance is made in the best traditions of situation comedy: it is based on unexpected coincidences and unpredictable funny situations that the characters of the story find themselves in. Ken Ludwig tells the story of the unpretentious enterprise of two outsider actors who, against all odds, dream of world fame and millions in fees.

Actors-swindlers

The characters of Ken Ludwig's Prima Donna are designed to make the viewer admire them, sympathize with them, and be in awe of their antics. The main characters are the actors Leo and Jack, young English actors, not devoid of talent and enterprise. Together they travel through the American provinces.

Because their Shakespearean classic doesn't resonate with viewers and therefore doesn't generate income, colleagues find themselves on the streets with no livelihood or hope of success. And then one day they get a chance to get a huge inheritance. From the newspaper they receive information that an elderly sick millionaire is in an unsuccessful search for her nephews Max and Steve, who were taken to England as children, and all ties with whom have been lost. It turns out that the aunt expresses a desire to give them most of her fortune. But for the main characters of "Diva" there is one problem - they are not legal heirs. So Leo and Jack decide to impersonate their wanted nephews in order to get an inheritance. And then they realize that in order to obtain a fortune for themyou have to go to the trick and use all your acting skills. After all, suddenly they find out that Max and Steve are not nephews, as expected, but nieces!

But for the adventurers Leo and Jack there are no insurmountable obstacles, they are ready to do anything, even … change into women's dresses. And when they change into the women's outfits of their colleagues in the creative workshop to implement their plans, the film "Only Girls in Jazz" comes to mind by itself.

So young adventurers show up at the millionaire's house and claim they are the nieces she's been looking for. Leo and Jack bring a lot of play, mischief, hilarious nonsense, laughter and celebration to the ordinary life at home. However, lovers of easy money did not take into account the fact that fate is the wisest director. They will have to face such unforeseen events that will cause all their plans to go awry.

Behind such awkward situations, general chaos and cute naive intrigues, the viewer, however, can even discern genuine Shakespearean passions.

Success of the play in Russia

Thus, "Primadonnas" conquered the world's leading scenes, causing stormy enthusiasm for comedy lovers. Interesting plot twists, colorful characters, hilarious situations and dialogues - all this allowed the play "Primadonnas" in Russia to achieve positive feedback from the audience and become one of the most popular comedies on the country's theater stage.

Staging "On the Foundry"

Success of the premiere"Primadonnas" on the stage of MKUK GDTs "Rodnik" in many ways served as an incentive to continue staging activities. Already a few months after the premiere, the Na Liteiny Theater showed the eccentric comedy Primadonnas on the stage of its stage. Sergey Morozov was the main director.

He was invited to the theater after the scandalous dismissal of his predecessor Igor Larin. This was preceded by a lot of turmoil in the work of the theater. In connection with such events, the new director's appeal to the genre of grotesque comedy and the opportunity to have a good laugh was the best way to sum up the black streak in the life of the theater. Approving reviews of the performance "Primadonnas" in the theater "on Liteiny" only confirmed the correctness of the strategy chosen by the director. Although it causes some bewilderment, why all of a sudden a “serious” guest theater stepped into the field of commercial enterprise and at the same time did not get lost in genre guidelines and chose exactly the path that led to large box office receipts.

The secret of success

The secret of the performance's success is that Primadonnas is a good market offer: a quality private comedy. The production is replete with whimsical scenery created by Anna Lavrova and original outfits by Olesya Gladysheva and Lyudmila Grigoryeva.

Among the advantages of the production is that it was played by a professional theater troupe. At the same time, the performance fully justifies the price of a ticket, which varies from 300 to1000 rubles per seat.

For and Against

Among the negative reviews about the performance "Primadonnas" in St. Petersburg, one can single out too unpretentious musical accompaniment and several clearly inappropriate episodes in the second act, slowing down the pace of the story.

The new work of the theater is characterized by underlined deliberateness, carelessness and carelessness. From the reviews of the performance "Primadonnas" "on Liteiny" it becomes clear that all these characteristics are very appropriate in the production. They, according to the audience, create an atmosphere of lightness and ease of what is happening. The superficiality of the images does not repel, but, on the contrary, draws the viewer into what is happening on the stage. The absence of tedious dramatic dialogues makes the theatergoer understand that the performance is only an attempt to make laugh and distract from sad thoughts.

Where else can you see the play?

In addition to the theater "On Liteiny", which is located in St. Petersburg, the play "Primadonnas" can be seen on the Moscow stage of the Chekhov Theater. Judging by the enthusiastic reviews of the audience about the play "Primadonnas" at the Moscow Art Theater. Chekhov regarding the organization and creation of a comedic atmosphere, this production will not leave indifferent even the most sophisticated theatergoer.

The Moscow Art Theater (MKhT) has a long history of existence, which dates back to 1898, since the founding of the theater by Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko and Konstantin Stanislavsky. In 1919, the theater was awarded the title of academic (MKhAT). In 1987, the team split intotwo independent troupes - the Moscow Art Theatre. Gorky and the Moscow Art Theater. A. P. Chekhov. Already at the time of its foundation, the Moscow Art Theater became not only a truly artistic theater, but also a source of innovation and discovery. From 1970 to 2000, the functioning of the theater is associated with the work of Oleg Efremov, an exceptional actor, director and theatrical figure. In 2000, the Moscow Art Theater was headed by Oleg Tabakov, who headed for a total renewal of the theatrical repertoire and for this he began to attract the best actors and directors. The Moscow Art Theater troupe contains about a hundred actors, many of them are real "stars" of the Soviet and Russian theater and cinema. According to the audience's feedback on the play "Primadonnas", it can be concluded that one of the main criteria when choosing a play was the presence of recognizable actors familiar from series and projects on TV. Of course, the viewer could not ignore the cast of "Primadonnas": here are Dmitry Dyuzhev, and Stanislav Druzhinnikov, and Mikhail Trunin and many other actors whom we know from their roles in films.

The content of the performance and the opinion of the audience about it

It is worth noting that in 2001, in addition to the Main and Small stages, the third - New - stage of the Moscow Art Theater was opened, located in the building next to the theater. It still serves as a platform for experimental performances to this day. However, the play "Diva" has been part of the theater program for many years, so it is not innovative, as is the case with the theater "On Liteiny". Therefore, the events of the performance unfold on the Main Stage of the Chekhov Moscow Art Theater.

The plot of the performance unfolds according to the plot of the original play, its duration is almost 3 hours. Reviews of the play "Primadonnas" at the Moscow Art Theater. Chekhov is replete with notes on the brilliant directorial work of Evgeny Pisarev, a master of the comedy genre in the theater. Although some viewers found the jokes unfunny, however, everyone has a different level of requirements, changing over time, and this remark is more applicable to the script of the play.

In the reviews of the play "Primadonnas" noted the excellent play of actors and the work of make-up artists. According to the audience, they did not expect to see such a transformation of Mikhail Trukhin and almost until the very end of the production they could not recognize the actor in makeup.

Price per seat varies from 350 to 2000 rubles. Viewing a view is great for watching with the whole family. Not cheated "Diva" in the Moscow Art Theater. Chekhov by reviews and teenage audiences, who are usually cool about theatrical productions. Having gone to the "Diva" they were impressed and happy to go to the play again. Agree, it is difficult to find a more severe critic than a teenager.

Thus, we suggest you, if possible, by all means visit the aforementioned theaters in order to personally verify the veracity of the reviews about the play "Primadonnas" and determine which theater deserves the highest praise.