White lies cast. Director Gleb Panfilov spoke about the play “White Lie”
review of the performance:"White Lie"
production director: Gleb Panfilov
based on the play:“Trees Die Standing” by Alejandro Casona
actors: Inna Churikova, Victor Rakov, Igor Konyakhin
place, date of viewing: Moscow State Theater “Lenkom”, January 08, 2013
“White Lies” is a performance based on the popular theater play “Trees Die While Standing.” The author of the Lenkomov stage version is director Gleb Panfilov, who changed the ending of the play to a more tragic one in accordance with his vision.
Starring Inna Churikova (grandmother Eugenia). The first thing that comes to mind when you see the performance of the role of Inna Churikova is the system of Konstantin Stanislavsky. We assume that an outstanding theater figure would applaud Churikova and shout “I believe!”, since Churikova’s performance is the highest level of acting, when the actor psychologically completely transforms into his character and believes that what is happening is not happening on stage, but in reality. “...And where there is truth and faith, there is genuine, productive, purposeful action, there is experience, and the subconscious, and creativity, and art” (Konstantin Stanislavsky).
play "White Lies", Lenkom, from left to right - Igor Konyakhin, Viktor Rakov, Inna Churikova
The second main role, Senora Balboa, was played by Viktor Rakov, who starred in a number of famous films, including the 1994 film adaptation of “The Master and Margarita” in the role of the Master (directed by Yuri Kara).
The kindness and sincerity of Senor Balboa, who for many years has been writing touching letters to his wife (grandmother Eugenia) supposedly from his grandson, whom they have not seen for 20 years, is very attractive to the viewer, but this is also facilitated by the great personal charm of the actor.
"White Lies", Lenkom, Viktor Rakov and Inna Churikova
The House of Lords Balboa is located in Barcelona. The rooms have a very cozy atmosphere and amazing views of the sea coast and the city from the high windows that go almost to the ceiling.
"White Lie", Lenkom
There is a lampshade hanging from the ceiling above the table, a wooden console against the wall, clocks and portraits on the walls, vases with fresh flowers everywhere, everything is decorated with great taste, expensively and without frills. That rare case when the design of a modern production was done without technical “stuff” and other special effects. At the same time, the house of Lord Balboa is decorated so beautifully that at first the viewer is even distracted from the events on stage, studying its interior.
“White Lies” is a very high-quality performance from a dramaturgical point of view: the plot is exciting, non-standard, events develop rapidly, there is a sharp climax and an unexpected ending. Its only drawback is the tragedy of this ending, in which Grandmother Eugenia dies, because she became very close to the viewer during the performance.
You can see Inna Mikhailovna’s performance in Lenkom in two performances - “The White Lie” and “The Lioness of Aquitaine”, both stage versions of the prima’s husband, Gleb Panfilov.
There is no need to convince anyone of the need to touch the work of an incomparable actress who has not acted for 32 years and lives on the Lenkom stage. About her only with aspiration: legendary, incomparable, unsurpassed. People's Artist of the USSR, laureate of the State Prizes of the USSR and Russia, officer of the Order of Arts and Letters (France), winner of the Silver Bear at the Berlin Film Festival (1984) in the category "Best Actress" for the film "War Romance". But this is not the case when the ovation after the end of the performance becomes only a sign of respect, an order of merit from the audience, it is gratitude for the performance without a shadow of indulgence.
“White Lies” was created as if specifically to demonstrate Churikova’s entire acting range. Yes, although why does it seem like Panfilov’s choice is not accidental: he admires his muse, offering her the crowning role.
Eugenia or grandmother, as the heroine Churikova is called, lost her grandson 20 years ago. Her husband, Senor Balboa, caught him, a 13-year-old boy, making another attempt to steal and kicked him out of the house. They never saw each other again and it seemed that life was over. But a couple of years ago, my grandmother received the first of hundreds of letters, which told me that her grandson, Mauricio, became an architect, traveled all over the world, met a wonderful girl and married her. Following her grandson, the grandmother studied the forests and copses of Canada using maps and mastered architecture. And now, telegram, he will come to visit! How much he has changed, but the sparkles in his eyes remained the same - family! A week of joy and happiness, but again a telegram arrives - they are called back to Canada. There is nothing to be done - we have to go. And how inopportune is this annoying stranger who came so inopportunely... but this is my boy... Mauricio.
For the viewer, the story begins in the office of a strange company, where the girl Marta, who, anticipating events, will be called Isabella (Anna Zaykova) and Señor Balboa (Viktor Rakov), is invited by invitation, with an unusual request. The first director, the future Mauricio (Igor Konyakhin), invites him to work, and accepts the second’s offer. We learn that Senor Balboa came to the charitable foundation, which helps not with finances, but with deeds, with the following story: 20 years ago he kicked his teenage grandson out of the house, catching him trying to steal, and since then his wife, Eugenia, has been dying. The lord worried about his wife for years, and then began to write letters to her on behalf of his grandson, making him a successful architect, traveler, and finally, a husband. And then the grandmother receives a telegram from her grandson about an imminent visit. A real grandson. Who, as everyone thinks, died during the crash of the liner. So Senor Balboa asks the director to play the role of his grandson in front of his grandmother, and Marta, in the opinion of both, will fit as a daughter-in-law.
Grandma is happy, she dotes on Mauricio and his Wife. The idyll of a family reunion will be destroyed by a real grandson who survived. The opposite of the fictional one, the real Mauricio came for the money that he hopes to receive from the sale of the house.
But Panfilov went further, instead of drama from Kasona, the Lenkom viewer received melodrama: after leaving his grandmother, the real Mauricio dies from a knife blow, apparently from one of his friends. The grandmother pathetically exclaims that it was in vain that she chose “a grandson with all the comforts.” And immediately after, in the tradition of a roller coaster, there is a rise from the abyss of reasoning to the heights of an inexpressibly poignant last dance with a grandson, after which, having finished, the partners go together into the darkness of the wings.
It will all end with applause, turning into a standing ovation. The spectator's eyes will sparkle with delight and tears, even the gallery will not strive to quickly squeeze through to the wardrobe.
When the emotions subsided, 4 main questions arose about the performance.
Why was the play modernized? This is not due to the need to make the play more relevant - the plot is timeless. Although the effect of combining theater and cinema, obtained thanks to the operator who broadcast live to the screens, turned out to be quite interesting. “We are just filming a reality show, because it is from sponsors that the foundation receives money for good causes” turned out to be a real good deed for the audience, including those sitting on the balcony - they saw close-ups, excellently acted by Churikova and Rakov, but not mastered by the younger generation . But the broadcast itself is a plus.
The game of Anna Zaikova (Isabella) and Igor Konyakhin (Mauricio) – postmodern? Actors portray actors playing roles and that's why they lose like that? Plasticity, intonation, voice are too obviously weak compared to the older generation.
Why did they kill their grandson? Do not let the grandmother, following the literary source, choose a grandson to her liking: maintain the illusion that the other did not tell her anything, pretend that she believes the play of actors who themselves want to become more than actors? Our grandmother will repent and admit her weakness. By the way, Panfilov’s real Mauricio is a victim of circumstances, who wanted to take the money in order to help someone. A character who became more multidimensional took away that same multidimensionality from the ending. By the way, about the finale.
Why was the final monologue of the false Mauricio about the need to choose the unadorned, saying that only the real is real? Charles! This morality of quick preparation and assimilation is clearly unnecessary here.
A performance during which you don’t pay attention to your fidgeting neighbor or the feeling of hunger or fatigue is good. When you remember the stories of your life, the people you seem to have forgotten. Thanks to Inna Mikhailovna and others, “White Lies” is like that.
Gleb Panfilov’s production is based on the famous work by Alejandro Casona “Trees Die While Standing.” This wonderful play by the Spanish playwright can often be seen on the theater stage. But the Moscow Lenkom performance differs significantly from the literary source.
Gleb Panfilov not only changed the title, but also “intervened” in the plot of the play - he moved the events to the present (and the play was written in the middle of the last century) and changed the ending. The play also shortened the characters, but a completely new person appeared, not identified in the original source - the cameraman. A person with a camera films what is happening on stage, and the real picture is shown large and prominently on four large screens. And besides, the director changed the genre with a “light hand” - Kasona’s funny comedy on the stage of Lenkom appears as a sad and painful melodrama.
The events in the play unfold around an elderly married couple, the Balboas. Once upon a time they lost their son and daughter-in-law, and they were left with a grandson in their arms - a wonderful, charming boy, sun and joy. But the trouble is, having matured, the young man turned out to be obstinate and boorish, with a completely unbearable character. And his grandfather drove him out of the house. But with the departure of the grandson, it was as if the sunlight had also left. The grandmother is having a hard time with the separation, and in order to somehow alleviate her suffering, old Balboa decides to take a completely adventurous step - he orders a “fake” grandson, one extremely positive young man.
At first glance, a comical situation turns out to be a real test for the Balboas. Moreover, the “real” grandson was not slow to appear and present his rights. And yet, “White Lies” at the Lenkom Theater is, first of all, about love. About its different expressions and manifestations. Important and eternal questions - is lying really necessary? And can she really save? - rise in the performance. You can find out how the heroes of Lenkom’s production answer them by visiting the theater.
How to buy tickets for the play “White Lies”
We have created a convenient and understandable service for all theatergoers, which will help them buy tickets for the play “White Lies” and other Lenkom productions. With us you can:
- order tickets online and by phone;
- pay for purchases in cash, payment cards, or by bank transfer;
- use the services of a courier who will deliver your order free of charge (in Moscow and St. Petersburg);
- get a good discount if you purchase 10 or more tickets at a time;
- receive competent advice on all issues related to purchasing tickets and choosing the best seats in the hall.
Be sure to visit the production of “White Lies” and watch the ups and downs of the fate of the main characters.
Today after work I visited Lenkom and this, in general, opened my vacation :)
I watched "White Lies". A completely unfamiliar thing to me. Even unexpected, I would say - I bought tickets with a colleague “on the run”, a couple of days in advance, on the Internet, simply choosing the date - it seems that for the first time I didn’t even look at the performance’s page. And then I got busy - work, things to do... I still didn’t look at what I was doing, in general. The stronger the impression.
Play - " Stage version by Gleb Panfilov based on Alejandro Casona“(c), in fact, based on the popular play by Alejandro Casona “Trees Die While Standing,” which I naturally have not read.
What can I say... I really enjoyed it! That's very good. Somehow everything is “easy” one for one, and it turned out magical. I’ll try to convey my impressions without retelling the performance itself - in case someone, like me, is not in the subject - the more interesting it will be to watch :) The story, on the whole, is, of course, predictable, but how exactly it will play out is interesting every minute. In general, almost three hours of the performance fly by in one breath, and even the intermission does not dampen the mood.
The scenery is amazing! One “view outside the window” is worth it, day/night, mmm!
The costumes are interesting, simply fabulous (I mean, fabulously good). These are a little “from different eras” - everyone pleases grandma, that’s understandable :) I admired the costumes throughout the performance, and after that I read the program - of course, the costume designer is Victoria Sevryukova!
In general, everything and everyone is very clearly divided into the “family world” with interiors, costumes, some lag from civilization (the elderly couple is well over 70),
and the “rest of the world” - television, business, mobile phones, airplanes, appropriate clothing.
Fabulous composition:
Amelia, typist- Tatyana Zbrueva
Elena, manager- Elena Stepanova
Martha Isabella- Anna Zaikova
Señor Balboa, grandfather- Victor Rakov
Stefano, cameraman- Vitaly Borovik
Diego Mauricio- Igor Konyakhin
Grandmother- Inna Churikova
Henoveva- Irina Serova
Another- Alexey Polyakov
Police Lieutenant- Sergey Alexandrov
Of course, Inna Churikova (grandmother) is simply a goddess. How she plays, or doesn’t play, she lives. How her eyes sparkle, how she exists there on stage, how natural and expressive at the same time! Her heroine is so fully revealed, she is beautiful, understandable, proud, strong and at the same time so vulnerable... I am completely sincerely in admiration.
I liked Victor Rakov (Señor Balboa) here, although I’m not a big fan of him. The only thing is that he is so obviously young for the grandfather of a 34-year-old grandson (and just next to Churikova he is too clearly younger) that it slightly “knocked me out” of what was happening.
Absolutely beautiful, simply exceptionally pretty Martha-Isabella (Anna Zaikova). But Igor Konyakhin didn’t look that way to me. Plus, I have a big question about his final speech in poetry - what was that? No, I understand that “the moral of this fable is” (c) must be, otherwise the viewer won’t guess, but why is it necessary to force the actor to act out some sketch-monologue that is completely unrelated to the style of the performance (and the content too, hmm)? ... Moreover, there are no questions for Igor Konyakhin in this case - he read everything very well and “with expression.” As a viewer, I have a question: why, why did they ruin the impression of the performance, and it was the strongest, I must say?!
I would like to say a special thank you for Khenoveva (Irina Serova) - the character is a little “clichéd”, comic, but how she is in place and how she enlivens the action!
The Moscow State Theater "Lenkom" has been delighting audiences for more than 85 years with its extraordinary productions, many of which are recognized as true masterpieces of Soviet and Russian theatrical art.
The opening of the next anniversary season was marked by the premiere of Gleb Panfilov’s play “A White Lie.” Lenkom, reviews of visits to which are most often positive, did not disappoint theatergoers this time, especially since its most famous stars shone on stage. Even those who have repeatedly seen productions based on A. Casona’s drama “Trees Die While Standing” claim that they discovered it from a completely new side. Why did the performance captivate the audience so much?
"Lenkom". “White Lie”: plot
Gleb Panfilov not only changed the name of the play, but also added several scenes. All events unfold around an elderly married couple. They have an only grandson, who once committed a serious offense, for which he was kicked out of the house by his grandfather. More than 20 years have passed since then, but the grandmother continues to wait for news from her grandson, who left for Canada. Over time, the woman becomes more and more sad, and her husband, Senor Balboa, begins to send her fake letters. In them he describes the happy life of his grandson, who was educated, married and achieved great success. Moreover, fearing that his white lie will be discovered, the grandfather hires actors to portray his grandson and his wife, who come to visit their beloved grandmother.
Thus, a new scene appears in the play in the office, where they sell “fairy tales for adults” and you can order performers for any role.
In the finale, a real “bad” grandson appears, demanding that the inheritance be given to him. The grandmother understands what's what and kicks him out. A young man is killed by unknown people, most likely because of the dark affairs he was involved in overseas. The elderly Senora Balboa, bending over the body of her relative, forgives him and dies with him.
There are no such tragic scenes in Casona's original play. However, Panfilov most likely decided to enhance the melodramatic effect in order to prove that lying is always bad.
Inna Churikova
Her creative and marital tandem has a long and successful history. Therefore, it is not surprising that the play (Lenkom) “White Lies” was created specifically for the actress who played in the theater. Lenin Komsomol has many interesting roles.
The actress's previous significant work was the image of Eleanor of Aquitaine, which, according to critics, she undoubtedly succeeded. The role of Eugena Balboa can also be considered one of her creative achievements. Suffice it to say that when the production of “White Lies” (“Lenkom”) is discussed, reviews primarily speak of Churikova’s magnificent performance. Euhena's last monologue, which she pronounces before her death, makes a particularly great impression on the audience. Churikova manages to so vividly portray the suffering of a grandmother who saw her grandson die that many of those present in the hall can barely hold back tears. And this happens at almost every performance!
Victor Rakov
What else is interesting about “White Lies” (play)? “Lenkom” (reviews from many famous artists allow us to speak about this with complete confidence) for many opened the door to a new life, full of twists and turns, dramatic events and exciting love experiences with which the stage is so rich... The production we are considering has become another achievement of Viktor Viktorovich , known to audiences for his numerous roles in films and theater. At least that’s what critics and most theatergoers think. He makes a worthy match for Inna Churikova and makes you believe in real, high love between Signora and Signor Balboa, which justifies even a lie.
By casting Rakov in the play, Panfilov gave his brainchild greater modernity, since his “old men” are youthful and not at all like his grandfather and grandmother, who were usually presented to the audience by other directors who staged the work of Alejandro Casona.
Supporting actors
Do you want to see the young actors of the Lenkom Theater? “White Lies”, reviews of which also apply to their game, will provide you with such an opportunity. The performance stars Esther Lamzina, Sergei Alexandrov, Anna Zaikova, Vitaly Borovik, Igor Konyakhin, Irina Serova, Alexey Polyakov and Ksenia Baburkina. Some of them came to Lenkom relatively recently. “A White Lie” (critics’ reviews of this production are mostly positive) became an excellent opportunity for them to play together with the great Churikova, but not everyone, even a famous artist, can withstand such a partnership! It is therefore not surprising that many viewers were disappointed with the work of the youth. At the same time, the images of the secretary and the “grandson’s” wife were noted as successful.
Decoration and design
The play takes place in Barcelona. It is there that the home of the Balboa lords is located. Good taste in everything has always been the hallmark of the Lenkom Theater. “White Lies” (see reviews below) is a performance whose scenery is admirable. They are made in a traditional style and make the viewer feel like participants in a stage performance. In addition, Panfilov placed 4 screens in the hall to demonstrate close-ups. Thus, even from the last rows you can observe the facial expressions of the characters and see what is happening on stage in the smallest detail.
Performance (Lenkom) “White Lies”: audience reviews
The Moscow audience is spoiled by good productions. And guests of the capital who decide to visit the theater always expect to see a masterpiece, so they place increased demands on the performances for which they buy a ticket.
If we also take into account that each viewer has his own idea of beauty, and the play “Trees Die While Standing” has been staged dozens of times in Russia, then it is clear that one cannot expect unambiguous reviews.
As for the young people involved in the production, the audience believes that this is not the best shift for the veterans of whom Lenkom is proud.
“White Lies” (there are diametrically opposed reviews of the play) is still worth watching, if only to appreciate the innovative techniques of Gleb Panfilov, which he brought from the film set.
