At the Theater of Nations, they tried to understand the reasons for the broken marriage of Tolstoy’s heroes in the category of luxury
A new version of “Anna Karenina” appeared on the Small Stage of the Theater of Nations – “Karenina. Process” directed by Alla Sigalova. The familiar story of Leo Tolstoy, the nature of love and passion are explored during the trial, where the suicide case of Anna Arkadyevna Karenina is being heard.
Alla Sigalova is a choreographer, head of the Department of Plastic Education of an Actor at the Moscow Art Theater School. So what could be expected from her Karenina in the dance. The plastic solution is definitely present. Everything is choreographically verified and very beautiful. Sigalova herself staged the novel by Leo Tolstoy, leaving the three main characters – Anna, Alexei Karenin and Vronsky. The prosecution and defense parties are also present on the stage, as the trial is underway, where once again everything is turned outward to understand the cause of the tragedy. The lawyer of the accused, Nikolai Samsonov, and the prosecutor, are trying to figure out why the marriage broke up – this is Alla Sigalova herself, a nervous, demonic lady in black. Her airy dress is almost the same as that of Karenina, who is played by her student at the Moscow Art Theater School, Sophia Ernst. The role was originally intended for her. Both – Anna and Mrs. Procurator – are like beautiful Blok strangers in a haze of spirits and mists. Anna is pretty and outwardly fully corresponds to our ideas about what Karenina should be like. Sofya Ernst does everything competently, is restrained in the manifestations of feelings, there is no anguish in her, but the power of passion is also minimized. Her husband Konstantin Ernst was present in the hall, emotionally perceiving what was happening on the stage, which added a degree to the action.
Stage designer Maria Tregubova created a laconic black-and-white space, reminiscent of a chessboard. The white tablet of the scene, on which there is nothing superfluous. There are only dark chairs covered with light covers, a piano, behind which Anna effectively sits. On the proscenium there are chairs for the prosecutor and the lawyer, from where they appeal to the jurors, in the role of the audience, during the performance. The space is divided into two halves. Part of the stage is static, while the other half slowly rises in the course of the hour and a half performance, becoming almost perpendicular, so that you can stand on it only by clinging to the chairs, like tree branches when climbing uphill. It happens imperceptibly. Anna and Vronsky roll head over heels into the abyss. The costumes were designed by Tatyana Eshba. They are black, very elegant and could grace a fashion runway.
Alexei Karenin was played by Igor Mirkurbanov, as always demonic, exuding dark energy. At the same time, his hero is able to understand everything, accept, forgive, overcome the thirst for retribution, just an ideal. The unrestrained temperament of the actor here is slightly extinguished – there are no open passions, an immense manifestation of feelings, everything is restrained and even. Kirill Vlasov is very good in his ardor in the role of Vronsky. He, like Sophia Ernst, is an actor of the Moscow Art Theater. Chekhov and also starred in “Kept Women”. Perhaps this is the first for him such a prominent role, and for the audience – the discovery of the actor. There is so much sincerity and purity in his Vronsky, something boyish that changes the balance of power. Passions sorted out in nature spectacularly, according to the category of luxury, without finding the guilty, justifying everyone.
Newspaper headline:
Karenina’s suicide was dismantled in court