In the theater repertoire. Yevgeny Vakhtangov presented a new performance, historical, or as it is now fashionable to say “costume drama”. The main character is him, Tsar Paul I. Perhaps one of the most controversial, mysterious and tragic rulers in Russian history. Why did director Natalya Kovaleva turn to her personality and legacy at this time? After all, he was only on the throne for a little over 4 years and spent them in such a way that there were no forces left in the empire that wouldn’t want to overthrow him, which ultimately led to his murder. But it is precisely because of his historical “innuendo”, in which he was not guilty due to the sudden departure from life against his will, that Paul I is of interest to us. Great things are seen from afar. After two centuries, his reign and his personality are perceived differently from what they were during his lifetime. Kovaleva set out to show us, the audience, a king such as his contemporaries never expected to see him: an unloved and underappreciated mother, sincerely wanting to make her people happy, rooting for the country and doing everything to make him prosper, but at the same time suspecting his own son of a conspiracy, desperately trying to cope with the courtiers’ displeasure, trying to love and be loved. We can say that this show is a kind of rehabilitation of Paul I, perhaps not on a historical level, but on a human level, that’s for sure.
Scene from the play “Paul I”
Photo credit: E. Chulikova
The literary basis was DS Merezhkovsky’s play “Paul I” and ER Simonov’s play “The Death of Paul I”. Despite the rich texture of the stage plan, Kovaleva’s team had to work hard – to generalize, expand, metaphorize. Weave into action Paul’s “conversations” with his mother, Catherine II, based on their correspondence and memoirs; poetic texts, including those of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. It turned out perfectly, dynamically and deeply – the performance completely immerses you as a viewer in yourself, sucks you into your “world” with an interesting, cocky, restless, sometimes playful, ironic, sometimes frightened protagonist like a small child. The tragedy of a man who inevitably rolls towards death passes before his eyes. I want to say: “Here, stop, wait, think, if you leave, hide from everyone, you can still change. Don’t trust Count Palen and have offended conversations with your son Alexander, be gentler on the parade ground and keep your ears open with courtiers, less arrogance. But no, Paul, I won’t hear you. He is carried by fate, and he cannot resist it. Everything has already been decided for him.
Scene from the play “Paul I”
Photo credit: E. Chulikova
The main star of the performance was Alexander Oleshko. Yes, don’t be surprised! A sweet, kind, charming and smiling artist, who most people know for his work on television as a host of children’s programs or a participant in the musical program Three Chords, and suddenly … Pavel I But I’ll tell you, for this reincarnation, you should go to the theater. E. Vakhtangov and see the play by N. Kovaleva. In the role of the Russian autocrat, he is organic, colorful, bold and assertive. I want to congratulate Alexander for his wonderful acting work! Of course, the make-up, the costume do their job, but her voice, her facial expressions, her plasticity have changed, I want to exclaim: “He’s a completely different person!”, and that’s the very essence of a good actor. When you look at it, you forget “that” Oleshko, in front of you is Paul I.
Irina Dymchenko, a movie star of the 80s, in the role of Catherine II, is also remarkable. The actress did a great job with this challenging role. Even appearing to her son in visions, her heroine cannot cease to be a “queen”, cannot become a “mother”, cannot calm, take a nap, console. She hurts Pavel with words, confident in his correctness and not realizing that he didn’t deserve such treatment just because she didn’t love his father.
Scene from the play “Paul I”
Photo credit: E. Chulikova
Igor Kartashev as Count Palen is charismatic and compelling. It spreads gently, but difficult to sleep. Calming Paul I, he at the same time made Alexander understand that his father’s age would not be long. The motif with the disciples who betrayed Jesus haunts the king. He anticipates death, but cannot do anything. Palena believes, but ironically on Alexander, deep in her soul not believing that her most dire guesses will soon come true.
The play “Paul I” can be seen on the stage of the theatre. Evg. Vakhtangov until the end of June and the 102nd season. Tickets are on sale. The age limit for performance is 16 and over.
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