The Royal Games (Lenkom) is an opera in two parts, based on the play 1000 Days of Anna Boleyn, created by Maxwell Andersn in 1948. The primary source is based on historical events that took place in reality. They are associated with the reign of Henry VIII - the English king. In the memory of his descendants, he remained a bold libertine and a bloody ruler.
The performance “Royal Games” was staged by Lenkom in 1995 (the premiere was played on October 12 of the same year). The play was staged by Mark Zakharov, and the author of the text was Grigory Gorin. Music written by Sandor Kaplosh. The duration of the Royal Games (Lenkom) is 2 hours 40 minutes. The performance has two actions, between which there is an intermission.
Secret of success
The “Royal Games” of the Lenkom Theater are a truly modern performance. After all, he tells of eternal political intrigues for the world. The play “Royal Games” (Lenkom) receives reviews as about a production that uniquely combines the conventions of opera and the reality of drama. The performance has long and firmly entered the list of the most popular centenarians. Without it, it is impossible to imagine a theater repertoire.
Despite the fact that the premiere of this production took place more than two decades ago, and now the public, as before, pre-buys tickets for viewing the “Royal Games” in Lenkom. Reviews from the audience confirm that if you do not take care of this in advance, then you can completely remain without the desired place in the theater hall. Indeed, a lot of people strive to see the performance.
Politics on the stage
Many people prefer to live a calm and measured life. However, no matter how they abstracted from politics, it invariably invades their souls and everyday life, touching the most hidden strings there. Sometimes politics does not disdain to even cynically break into a person’s personal space, breaking at the same time not only his present, but also his future life. In this regard, it becomes impossible to ignore and not notice the processes that occur at the heights of power.
The present inhabitants of the Earth, despite the national originality of the directions of development and destinies, are nevertheless interconnected by the common history of the planet. This moment was perfectly felt by the American playwright Maxwell Anderson and was reflected in his play.
The performance “Royal Games” (Lenkom) receives reviews as an action in which the viewer sees all today's suffering and aspirations, losses and gains in the agony and joys of the characters presented on the stage. At the same time, these feelings went through an intricate modification and tried on a new assessment, setting and perception.
Production genre
What are the reviews of the Royal Games (Lenkom) received from critics? When writing their reviews, they note that this production is an opera in its genre, but, in fact, is nothing more than a playwright's composition.
The storyline of the performance is inextricably linked with the life story of Henry VIII. This royal person and to this day does not cease to interest writers. And this is not surprising, because this ruler was a rather colorful figure. This is the personality of a gross barbarian and at the same time a philosopher trying to overtake time, a ruthless tyrant and romantic poet, a subtle politician and an unbridled libertine. Who plays such a multifaceted character in Lenkom's play “The Royal Games?” Reviews from the audience indicate that Alexander Lazarev is very talented on the stage of King Henry VIII. This is a national artist of Russia and a worthy son of his father.
The author Grigory Gorin, taking as a basis a plot familiar to many, created either a play or a libretto. What do viewers say about the Royal Games (Lenkom) about this? Judging by the opinion of theater fans, the production combined the conventions of opera and the reality of dramatic action. It represents nothing more than a free interpretation of the image of the monstrous state machine existing at all times under the subordination of human fate.
The verbal text, after it reaches a certain degree of influence on the viewer, goes into singing. And it, in turn, at the most climactic moments turns into groans, cries and sobs of love and despair at the same time.
What do the reviews of the Royal Games play say? Lenkom Theater is advised to visit those people who want to feel sharp feelings, empathizing with the heroes. The acting is so realistic that there is never anyone indifferent in the audience.
Plot
The story told by the Lenk Theater concerns the love story of Henry VIII and the cruel as well as prudent Anna Boleyn, daughter of the treasurer of the ruler. The described events occurred in reality and still excite the souls of people.
At the time of the first meeting with Anna, King Henry VIII was a little over thirty years old. He was happy in marriage with Catherine of Aragon. The life of the ruler of England was overshadowed only by the fact that he did not have a heir. Of all the children born by the queen, only daughter Maria (in the future Bloody Mary) survived. But, nevertheless, the relationship between Catherine and Henry, despite his constant short-term hobbies, was quite friendly and warm. After all, the wife was condescending to the adventures of her husband. However, everything changed when a swarthy and black-haired maid of honor quickly burst into their lives, who was able to trample not only the health, happiness and life of the queen, but also religious traditions, as well as the tranquility of the country as a whole.
Anna fascinated Henry. He liked everything about the girl. Her luxurious hair and expressive eyes, a slender and refined figure, sharp mind, graceful movements, the ability to dress elegantly and impeccably, which she received during her stay in Paris, as well as the unbridled passion that can be guessed in her manners, and even her singing.
Henry, being a talented musician himself, could not help but appreciate Anna's virtuoso playing of the lute, bewitching voices, as well as a refined taste in the selection of songs of a new passion. He was pleased to show her signs of attention, but she rejected all his sighs and offerings.
The king fell in love just madly. However, Anna made it clear that she would never be one of his concubines. She needed to become a queen. And Henry decided to fulfill the condition of his beloved. But the king was married, and it was not easy to dissolve the marriage. He appealed to the Pope to give permission for divorce. This Henry was denied. And then the king of England began in his country the reform of the church, challenging religion. According to the newly adopted laws, the Pope completely lost power over the entire Catholic world of Misty Albion. The head of the newly created Anglican Church was King Henry VIII. After that, he was able to divorce and marry Anna Boleyn. However, the king’s hopes for the appearance of the heir did not materialize. Anna gave birth to a daughter. Soon the marriage, which lasted only 1000 days, broke up. At this time, Henry was already carried away by the simple girl Jane Seymour. Subsequently, the girl will become his next wife. But he decided to get rid of Anna. Heinrich accused Boleyn of adultery and treason, ordering her to be decapitated.
At the end of the play, a blonde girl appears on the stage. This is Anna's daughter. She pronounces the phrase "Elizabeth will be the First."
This story is the most striking and unusual love story that the world knows about. And the little girl Elizabeth, whom Anna left behind herself, later became one of the greatest rulers of Misty Albion. However, she led the kingdom of England to prosperity and peace.
This is a summary of the Royal Games (Lenkom).
Actors
The game of kings is always something alluring and terrible. After all, the one who takes part in them can receive a crown and a throne, or be on the executioner's chopping block. This cruel game of passions became for the authors of the production fertile material for the stage fantasy they created.
The dramatic actors of the play "Royal Games" (Lenkom) suddenly unexpectedly, but boldly took part in the opera. The performance was successfully played:
- Alexander Lazarev, as well as Semyon Shkalikov (in the role of Henry);
- Anna Bolshova, as well as Svetlana Ilyukhina (in the role of Anna),
- Ivan Agapov (Norfolk);
- Pavel Kapitonov (Cromwell);
- Victor Rechman (in the role of Thomas Boleyn);
- Elena Stepanova (as Mary Boleyn);
- Oleg Knysh (servant);
- Ekaterina Migitsko, as well as Natalia Omelchenko (housekeeper);
- Yuri Kolychev (Woolsey);
- Sergey Dyachkovsky, Konstantin Petukhov (Lord Percy);
- Love Matyushina (in the role of Elizabeth Boleyn);
- Olga Zinovieva, Natalia Shcherbinkina (singing maid of honor);
- Sergey Dyachkovsky and Alexey Skuratov (in the role of Henry Norris);
- Sergey Dyachkovsky and Dmitry Groshev (Mark Smithson);
- Natalia Omelchenko, Anna Zaykova, Esther Lamzina (Jane Seymour);
- Marina Korolkova;
- Gennady Kozlov, Vladimir Kuznetsov (Thomas More);
- Alexander Gorelov, Gennady Kozloa (Bishop Fisher);
- Kirill Petrov and Andrei Leonov (in the role of Thomas Wyer);
- Pavel Kapitonov (Thomas Cromwell);
- Sergey Yuyukin, Alexander Salnik, Igor Konyakhin, Vitaliy Borovik, Evgeny Boytsov, Maxim Amelchenko, Sergey Alexandrov (Cromwell's henchmen);
- Vera Telegin, Lena Starshinova (Elizabeth the First);
- Vitaly Borovik and Anatoly Popov performed a court dance;
- Nikolai Parfenok (musician with a lute).
In addition, such actors took part in the play “Royal Games” in Lenkom:
- Anatoly Abramov, who performed solo on drums;
- Angelika Voropaeva and Maria Plekhova, as well as Vladimir Kalitvyansky and Zhanna Terekhova, who played the oboe, flute and cello.
Feedback on the play (2017) “The Royal Games” in Lenkom confirms that at present its relevance remains at the highest level. Spectators are satisfied with the action they saw, where the actors throw sharp, shocking remarks, and their game is played with scenography, striking with its novelty. At the same time, the beauty of the costumes created for the performance was noted. The viewer is delighted with the idea of ​​the author of the opera Royal Games (Lenkom). Actors and roles in it are endowed simultaneously with tenderness and rudeness, vulgarity and sophistication. And the farce and tragedy seen on the scene serve as another reminder that life, albeit cruel, is still nothing more than a game.
What is characteristic for the play “Royal Games” (Lenkom)? Actors, sets, costumes, music - everything here is connected in one piece. Viewers note the easy movement of the white canopy curtain, which has many folds and is located in the middle of the stage. All the scenery in the play changes simultaneously with its action. They adapt to the situation, being not only a children's room, but also the prison in which Anna is located. And sometimes the spectators are struck by a snow-white UFO, which floats under the very ceiling in the auditorium. The theater-goers are also pleased with the inexorable pace of the performance, the impeccability of professional actors playing in the play. Many reviews are noted by the masters of Lenkom. So, Henry, played by Alexander Lazarev, is so piercing and powerful that it is impossible to predict how he will appear in the next scene - merciless or discouraged, confused or arrogant.
Very impressive viewers and the play of actor Ivan Agapov (Duke of Norfolk). In one person, he appears on the stage as a sage and a buffoon who constantly makes the audience laugh. Anyone who watched the performance is convinced that without this hero the action would come down to a description of the dark tragedy that occurred in the Middle Ages. The charismatic Duke of Norfolk allows you to dilute the overall picture of darkness and horror. And this makes it possible for the viewer to receive real pleasure from the performance.
Creative team
The play "The Royal Games" (Lenkom) was created:
- Director M. Zakharov;
- directed by Yu. Makhaev;
- Costumer Y. Harikov;
- music director and chief choirmaster I. Musaelian;
- choreographer A. Molostov;
- lighting designer S. Martynov.
Popularity
About how successful this performance was, we can talk endlessly. Even the most severe critic cannot fault the production. However, this was not always the case. In the first months after the release of the opera, there were moments refuting the success of the play in the future. Critics reproached Zakharov for making an attempt to escape from urgency and turned to old age. But even in 2017, the Royal Games (Lenkom) receives reviews as a performance, tickets for which are already sold out when its name appears on posters. Indeed, the popularity of the play lies in the fact that its main creator, M. Zakharov, managed to discern the sad present in the events of the past. That is why the play "Royal Games" is included in the list of the most magnificent theater productions.
It is worth noting that in 1996 the production received the theatrical award “Crystal Turandot”.
The significance of the character of Henry VIII
Without a doubt, in no theater in the world can there be such a stage on which kings, queens and other titled persons would not appear. The intrigues of the courtiers and the struggle for the throne, royal love and treachery ... All this has repeatedly been intertwined in dramatic scenes, inspiring playwrights and making the audience worried.
Of course, Henry VIII is one of the most famous English kings. A subtle politician and a cruel despot, an unbridled voluptuous man and a rude savage, whose instincts often prevailed over reason. To invent a more colorful figure is simply impossible.
For the first time in the role of a theatrical character, this king of England appeared on the scene at the end of the 17th century. in one of Shakespeare’s plays. And since then he has not left the stage of theaters and from the screens of movie theaters.
Significance of the character of Anna Boleyn
To match the English king Henry VII, his second wife. In Anna Boleyn, passions can be found no less than in her spouse. In the soul of a woman there is a constant struggle between the forces of good and evil. Moreover, passion is raging with such incredible power that it is simply impossible to express it in words. It is likely that because of this, this character often inspired the composition of operas, symphonies and musical works.
Of course, Henry could well have been the main character of the production of M. Zakharov. However, the author ordered in a different way. The main character in his performance was exactly Anna Boleyn. This strong woman, located in the male world, aroused the sympathy of the theater audience.
What is this performance about?
What do the authors show the audience? In the play you can see:
- desire for power;
- the willingness of a person to refuse a word that was given to them by another;
- the ability not to think about the unhappy woman who was the first wife of the king and did not give him a son;
- the boomerang rule, which involves the return of everything that was released in more than one way, because Anna became a homemaker for Henry’s wife, but an even worse fate awaited her;
- proof that a person who has done with someone in a certain way is most likely to do the same to you;
- the need for prioritization, because it’s completely unclear who needed Henry more - the heir or the beautiful Anna.
For whose sake did the king begin a conflict with the church? Of course, for the sake of a woman. However, having received it, but not having acquired an heir, Henry decided to execute the one for which he turned the whole world, and the one that until recently was the most coveted.
Centuries have passed since the incident. Progress began to develop at a rapid pace. Outer space has been mastered. But this does not mean that changes have occurred in human psychology. As in previous times, people continue to strive for wealth and power. All the same, they are ready to weave intrigues and substitute and kill other people. As before, it is impossible to predict in advance what gender the child will be conceived. And yet, any person will certainly answer for what he has done. It will happen sooner or later.
Human life is quite short. It is for him the field that must first be plowed, and then sow. And only this will allow you to get a crop, that is, a result that will show how rationally a person lived in this world, whether he understood the meaning of his existence and whether he became happy without harming other people.