This technique gained fame back in the days of William Shakespeare, but screenwriters and directors rarely used it. However, Michael Frein, an English playwright and novelist, took this step. He wrote a screenplay about the play. And so, in the early 80s of the last century, the long-awaited premiere of his play took place on the stage of the capital of Great Britain. The following spectators are the guests of Broadway spoiled by masterpieces, and further the play began to walk confidently around the world. It was called "Noise behind the scenes."
Biography of Michael Frein
Even before world fame fell upon him, the writer worked as a correspondent at the London publishing house and composed dramas.
Fluent in Russian, Frein presented to the English-speaking public the meaning of the works of Anton Chekhov in more detail and carefully translated the plays of the genius writer, namely: “Three Sisters”, “Uncle Vanya” and “The Cherry Orchard”.
The first one-act play of the playwright and novelist was not successful, but despite the failure, Michael Frein continued to work, and hard work brought the first fruits. The next work of the writer - "Alphabetical Order" - was awarded the Evening Standard prize as the best comedy of the year. Then theater critics enthusiastically accepted the plays of Michael Frein "Copenhagen", "Duck Years", "Pause" and "Noise behind the scenes."
The latter is a brilliant comedy that introduces the viewer into the backstage life of the theater. First, the audience watches the rehearsal of the actors in an ordinary theater, then in parallel the action is transferred to the backstage of the theater, and in the third act, the audience watches the upheavals of the actors playing this play eight months after the premiere.
Sitcom
“The Noise Behind the Stage” is a performance of the Moscow City Council, which premiered in 1987. At first glance, it might seem that actors are easy to play, because who, if not them, needs to know the backstage side of the profession. But perhaps this is the main difficulty. Playing a parody of a parody is not easy. For this, directors and actors need to have enough strength in stock and self-confidence.
In the Moscow City Council theater , Irina Klimova, Andrei Smirnov, Anton Anosov, Tatyana Hramova, Galina Bob, Andrei Mezhulis and other wonderful actors are involved in this performance. Artistic Director - Pavel Chomsky. Stage Director: Alexander Lenkov.
The plot of the comedy "Noise behind the scenes"
Briefly, the plot of the production is as follows: the provincial theater invites the director to stage the play “Love and Sardines”. From the name it’s already clear what level this theater and its entire “creative” group are. On the part of the director Lloyd Dallas, every effort is made to bring the troupe to life, but the actors are constantly sorting out the relationship, amusingly moving and so on. All this under the laughter of the viewer.
The second act is no less curious. The director announces the premiere of the play, but his wards are busy with themselves: they are jealous of each other, hide, lose, find and again hide the props. Meanwhile, a performance is being played on the stage. Finally, the third act - here everything is mixed together. The director himself, who in the first act tried to work fruitfully with the actors, and in the second to save the troupe from failure, in the third himself is drawn into their lives. And it is not clear to the viewer where the truth is, and where is the fiction. Everything was so mixed up and turned upside down.
If in the first act the audience who came to the play “Noise Behind the Stage” laughed with restraint, in the second and third acts did not restrain emotions, applauded with all their heart. Actors excelled themselves. There was no end to the ovations. Hall welcomed the actors standing.
Performance history
This unusual performance was loved by the viewer, and in many cities of Russia the production is renewed, to which the viewer goes with pleasure. Premieres take place in many cities: in St. Petersburg, Primorye, Dzerzhinsk, Saratov and other cities of the former CIS.
The theater’s performance about the theater in Soviet times was first directed by Inna Dankman in 1987. The production was a tremendous success and lasted in the repertoire of the theater for ten seasons.
The performance received warm feedback from the audience who visited the theater three or four years ago, when for the first time the actor Alexander Linkov tried his creative powers as a director. Unfortunately, the artist died in 2014, at the age of seventy. His film roles were long remembered by the Soviet audience. Especially films about the adventures of Deniski, where Alexander Lenkov charmingly played the father of the protagonist.
Reviews
What do viewers and critics say about the play “Noise Behind the Stage”? Reviews about him are mixed. According to the creator himself, this is a farce that should be played accordingly. If the viewer does not understand this, then the production may seem vulgar to him. Of course, the quality of the performance depends on the actors' play and director's work, but we must not forget that the grotesque exaggerates, deliberately disfigures the style of the narrative. And having come to the temple of Melpomene, inveterate theatergoers must prepare to watch an exaggerating curious performance. And it will be better if the guests of the theater prepare in advance to see the masterpiece.