Premiere family man: Tabakov Theater presented a new version of "The Eldest Son"
Alena Lapteva's play was presented at the Other Stage of the Sovremennik Theater. Alexander Vampilov's play was performed by three generations of actors from Oleg Tabakov's theater troupe in a fun, lively and cheerful manner. Both stages of TOT are now under repair, but neither its director Vladimir Mashkov, nor the troupe are not stopping and on the scaffolding of a friendly theater produces a premiere. One of the central roles was entrusted to the student of Tabakov Theater School Artem Malakhov, who did not get lost next to his experienced colleagues. In the role of senior Sarafanov - Honored Artist of Russia Vitaly Egorov. "Izvestia" visited the premiere and assessed whether the return of the "Eldest Son" is justified.
Reasons for the return of "Eldest Son"
Many remember the eponymous movie by Vitaly Melnikov with a star-studded cast - Evgeny Leonov, Nikolai Karachentsov, Mikhail Boyarsky, Natalia Egorova, Svetlana Kryuchkova. But despite the reference performers, the directors do not fear the shadow of their great predecessors and present their interpretations of Vampilov's play. It should be noted that they rarely fail to do so. Such is the magic of good literature.
The play "The Eldest Son" was the directorial debut of Alena Lapteva, an actress of the Oleg Tabakov Theater. Four years ago she presented the production to the audience. Then for her performance Lapteva invited young artists of the troupe, and the central role of senior Sarafanov gave Sergei Belyaev. The actor left the troupe, now he serves in the Chekhov Moscow Art Theater. And young artists have already gained experience and returned to their heroes.
-In his autobiographical book "My Real Life" Oleg Tabakov emphasized: "The basement is in debt to Alexander Vampilov, and this debt can only be repaid by staging his dramaturgy on our stage" , - says Alena Lapteva. - Already in the new century in the courtyard of the "basement" theater on Chaplygin installed a monument to three playwrights to whom Tabakov felt a special appreciation. One of them was Vampilov. So there were several reasons for the return of "The Eldest Son", and all of them are equally important.
An updated version of Vampilov's classic
In the updated version of Vampilov's classic, the head of the family was played by Honored Artist of Russia Vitaly Egorov. For the role of Sarafanov's youngest son Vasenka, the director invited his fourth-year student Artem Malakhov. Alena Lapteva still teaches at the Tabakov Theater School. And the debutant is not at all lost against the background of his experienced colleagues. Random students are not taken to the TST. And in "Tabakerka" has always been reverent about the continuity of generations.
In the plot of the play, on a cold spring evening, two young men Volodya Busygin (Arthur Kasimov) and Semyon Sevostyanov (Pavel Shevando), nicknamed Silva, are late for the last train. In search of a night's lodging they ring the doorbell of the first apartment they find. One of the uninvited guests appears to be the illegitimate son of the head of the family Andrei Grigorievich Sarafanov.
The elderly musician has two children - Nina (Natalia Popova) and Vasenka (Artem Malakhov). And both dream of leaving their father's home. The daughter is going to marry a pilot Michael (Sevastyan Smyshnikov). And the son runs away from unrequited love to the neighbor Natalia (Arina Avtushenko). Volodya so convincingly enters the role of Sarafanov's eldest son that the owners of the apartment believe him and accept the boys as relatives. However, the newfound relative does not even suspect how many surprises this night visit and frivolous deception will bring him and all the inhabitants of the apartment.
As Alyona Lapteva says, it is not the fact of the son's return (or sudden appearance) that is interesting. What is interesting is the figure of the father: loving and forgiving, as in the New Testament parable, loving and accepting - in Vampilov's story. Sarafanov Senior is one of millions whose fate was broken by the Great Patriotic War. He could have become a fine musician, but he is forced to play the clarinet at funerals.
The only connection with the bright side of his life is composing. For many years Andrei Grigorievich has been writing either a cantata or an oratorio. He informs Busygin: "Each person is born a creator, each in his own business, and each to the extent of his strength and abilities should create, so that the best that was in him, remained after him. That's why I compose."
The energy of the actors
- For me, the proposal to play this role was strange, because there is a brilliant movie - admitted Vitaly Egorov. - At first it was annoying. But I tried to forget that someone screened this play by Vampilov, and that someone has already rehearsed, and there was such a performance on stage. It all happened for me for the first time. As soon as the rehearsals began, I realized that the proposal was timely for me and for the theater.
According to the actor, his hero is vulnerable, naive, heartfelt, unrequitedly loving and kind.
- Now the situation in which my hero Busygin, when, knocking on someone else's door, he opened and loved as a native - just fantastic. It can't happen. But that's the beauty of this brilliant play," said Artur Kasimov.
Alena Lapteva set the artists a rapid rhythm. Without unnecessary pauses and hang-ups, the characters exist on stage. The energy is transmitted to the audience. They are laughing or wiping away tears.
Artist Sergei Tyrin has created on the small space of the Other Stage of the Sovremennik a courtyard with fences and puddles, through which you can cross only by bricks and boards, the house of Natalia's neighbor and the apartment of the main characters. But for the characters in the play, these walls are the air castle their father built.
- My Nina does not remember her mother, who left when the girl was four years old, - explained Natalia Popova. - And when she grew up, she, in fact, became a mother to this family. They all live in an air castle, and their hearts are pure and open to the world.
The final scene, in which, despite the revealed deception, all rallied around the head of the family, turned out to be very strong and emotional. Maybe someone after the play will call his parents, smile back at the smile of a passerby. "Eldest son" - a play out of time.
