The theater as a place for public entertainment has somewhat lost its strength with the advent of television in our lives. However, there are still performances that are very popular. A vivid proof of this is the "King Lear" of the "Satyricon." The audience’s feedback on this colorful performance encourages many residents and guests of the capital to return to the theater and enjoy the game of professional actors.
What is the work about?
The plot of the work “King Lear” in the “Satyricon” actors beat in a special way, taking into account all modern trends in art. The action takes place in the UK, time - XI century. The legendary ruler - King Lear - plans to leave the throne, but for this you need to divide his possessions between the three heirs. Unable to divide everything equally, the ruler asks each of them how much she appreciates, respects and loves him. The older sisters are desperately lying, and the youngest daughter, named Cordelia, declares that her love cannot be measured in worldly values. Lear does not believe the girl and renounces her, driving away with her defender - Count Kent. As a result, the kingdom is divided in half between two senior heirs.
Soon, the new rulers arrange a reception at which their real faces demonstrate. The king is horrified by his blindness and how false he raised his own children. The political situation in the kingdom is aggravating every day, and as a result, the elder daughters expel Lear from his own palace, with him there remains only a sure jester. In parallel with this, the storyline develops, in which Count Gloucester, his own son Edgar and the illegitimate Edmund take part.
In the steppe, Gloucester joins Lira, as well as Kent's only defender, Kent. The daughters of the king want to kill their father, the illegitimate son of Gloucester also wants to take his parent's life in order to receive an inheritance. The company falls into the trap and the old count loses sight; Edgar takes custody of him, who even has to kill the servant sent to complete what he started.
According to literary critics, the problem of fathers and children in the play King Lear should be considered a real tragedy. "Satyricon" significantly enhances the degree of drama, which allows you to penetrate the spirit of a brutal era. Cordelia decides to go to war on her own sisters, as a result of the battle, she and her father are prisoners in prison. Edmund intends to kill both, and for this he even bribes one of the prison officers. Thanks to the Duke of Albanian, the plans of the illegitimate son of Gloucester become known to everyone, and he dies in a duel with his half-brother.
The repentant Edmund, being on his deathbed, is trying to cancel his order, but Cordelia is already dead. One of the sisters poisoned the other, and then committed suicide, unable to bear grief. The king takes out the body of his youngest daughter from prison, and then dies. Edgar tells us that his father could not overcome all the misfortunes that fell on his head, and also went into another world. Earl of Kent declares that he would like to leave after the king, but obeys the Duke of Alban, who restores his status at court.
about the author
The idea of staging the play “King Lear” in the “Satyricon” has hovered since the very beginning of the 2000s, and it is primarily associated with interest in the personality of the author. William Shakespeare, who wrote this tragedy, is known as one of the greatest dramatists of the planet, his creations are translated into almost all existing languages. As a resident of London, he became not only a successful writer, but also a talented actor, as well as the director of the Servant of the King theater studio.
A huge number of questions are raised by the personality of the writer, since the small legacy of documents that has been preserved to date does not allow us to form a concrete idea of it. Some literary critics believe that such an author as Shakespeare did not exist at all, and all his works were created by other people, however, the overwhelming majority of researchers of his personality reject this point of view.
“King Lear” is today considered one of the best tragedies ever created in English. Shakespeare received a large number of meritorious reviews during his lifetime, especially from Victorians and representatives of romanticism. Even in the XXI century, his work is the subject of study by leading literary critics of the planet who rethink the work of the British author in accordance with the current cultural situation in society.
It is believed that the creation of the work of the English writer was inspired by a legend originating from ancient times. The legend of daughters who betrayed their own father was only translated into English in the 14th century. It is known that at the end of the sixteenth century the theaters of Britain successfully premiered the production, entitled “The Tragic History of King Lear,” some literary scholars believe that its author is Shakespeare, who later gave the play a new name. There are also documents confirming that the work on the play Shakespeare finished only in 1606. Thus, the question of authorship of the work is still open.
Despite this, one of the most popular performances in Moscow for several years in a row has been “King Lear” in “Satyricon,” reviews of this unusual production annually attract art lovers here. Some of them are happy to speculate on how relevant the thesis of the play is for today, and discuss this at intermission or after the play.
Who embodies medieval passions on stage?
One of the main components of the success of “King Lear” in the “Satyricon” is the actors and roles, competently distributed between them. The star of the production is Konstantin Raikin, who assumed control of the theater in 1987, after the death of his father, the famous satirist Arkady Raikin. Critics note that it is thanks to his original reading of the king’s personality that the performance looks incredibly organic, and the spectator, unwittingly, begins to empathize with the heroes.
Since the members of the theater troupe are also engaged in the production of films, quite often it is necessary to form a reserve staff for performances. The fate of “King Lear” in “Satyricon” did not pass, the actors and roles distributed between them are rare, but still change. For example, the roles of Prince Edgar are alternately played by Daniil Pugaev and Artem Osipov, although both of them at one time played less significant characters. The distribution of roles is most often carried out a few months before the start of the season, so actors can pre-arrange their work schedule.
Just by watching the performance, the viewer can understand why it was necessary to put “King Lear” in the “Satyricon”: the actors here are laid out in full, trying to give the audience maximum viewing pleasure. The roles of the Dukes of Albanian, Conuel and Burgundy are sequentially assigned to Vladimir Bolshov, Konstantin Tretyakov and Yakov Lomkin. All these experienced actors have been working in the theater for more than 10 years, and there are simply no replacements for these outstanding specialists in this performance.
All female characters are at the mercy of talented actresses who manage to combine theater and cinema, for example, Cordelia is played by Glafira Tarhanova, known to a wide range of spectators. The roles of the other two daughters, Gonerilla and Regana, are performed by Marina Drovosekova and Agrippina Steklova, the girls do not have understudies, so you can see them at every performance. The jester in the production of the theater has a highly developed feminine, therefore, its ladies play Elena Bereznova and Elizaveta Cardenas.
According to the theater-goers, the production is very popular due to the presence of Konstantin Raikin, who plays King Lear. The performance of the Satyricon, the actors employed in it, the situation - all this pales against the talent of the son of a well-known satirist in the Soviet Union. However, they note, the king remains such only against the background of the retinue, so the role of each member of the troupe in the production is quite large.
Without whom the performance would not have taken place?
The director of the production is Yuri Butusov, who began working with the theater of Konstantin Raikin in 2002. By that time, he became famous for his debut work - the play “Waiting for Godot”. An unusual reading of Beckett's work brought him two prestigious awards at once - the Golden Mask and the prize of the Christmas Parade festival. It is in the theater to them. Lensoveta Raikin saw the talented productions of the director, after which he decided to offer him cooperation.
Outside of time and space - the main principle of “King Lear” Butusov in “Satyricon” - the viewer will not be able to determine where and at what time the action takes place. This is a traditional approach to staging the play, however, it is in this theater that it helps to create an original and holistic picture of the action. The scene is completely devastated: at first glance it resembles a storehouse of scenery that was not used long ago, it is a symbol of the timeless space of history that can happen anytime, anywhere.
A whole series of huge red doors, sheets of plywood, boards - all this should demonstrate to the viewer that the whole world is in real ruin, and the theater is a mirror of this era, which impartially demonstrates reality. The main task Butusov sets himself is to constantly withdraw his guests from the “comfort zone” in the auditorium, which is why the action takes place in different parts of the stage, and the characters appear on the scene in the most unexpected way.
It is worth noting the madness of the protagonist, which is very clearly expressed in the “King Lear” of the “Satyricon”. The director deliberately enhances the degree of madness. At the same time, historical features remain on the sidelines, the heroes are approximately in the 20th century, their clothing and appearance reflect this. Politics here also remains aloof, although the play contains a large number of scenes that, if desired, can be shifted to existing reality.
Do the audience like the performance?
As the theater troupe shows the performance “King Lear” in “Satyricon” for at least twice a month, there are more and more reviews of this performance. The guests of the theater are mostly satisfied with the staging; in their opinion, the main points of the play are presented in such a way that they cause a desire to start taking care of their relatives and friends. Despite the need to constantly keep the audience in suspense, the actors do not abuse it, letting their guests independently draw certain conclusions during the performance.
Also, the harmonious acting ensemble, where everyone is in their place and favorably sets off other colleagues, is highlighted by the audience as the advantages of the production. Particularly noteworthy is the musical design of the play, created by its director, Yuri Butusov, and which allows to form a single integral picture of the action. A large number of vivid scenographic techniques, used in the most unexpected way, allow viewers in the finale to experience a real emotional shock, which is the goal of the director.
The cast also, according to the audience, deserves the most real awards. Earlier in the play “King Lear” of “Satyricon”, the reviews often enough concerned the game of Maxim Averin, better known to the public by the role of Major Glukharev. In this theatrical production, he played the role of Edmond for several years, however, due to the demand for cinema, he was withdrawn from the play.
Despite the departure of Averin, a large number of talented actors are still involved in the play, which is also noted by the audience. A rare performance dispenses with the colors that grateful fans present to the leading performers in “King Lear”. The first action for some of them seems a little drawn out, however, they perceive it as a kind of filter through which those who are obviously not ready to plunge into the world of the performance will not go through.
Konstantin Raikin - perhaps this is the name that will come up first when mentioning the theater "Satyricon", "King Lear". In reviews of the performance, viewers are often amazed at the tricks performed by a man. The actor has been appearing on the stage in the form of a monarch for more than 10 years and every time he has been surprising the guests of his theater - in several performances he even managed to stand on his head. The deep emotions of Raikin, the scenes of contradictions brilliantly played by him, the energy of chaos - all this makes the audience constantly come to this production over and over again.
What needs to be improved?
There is nothing perfect, and viewers sometimes find a number of negative aspects even in children's performances designed for a completely different psychology. “King Lear” of the “Satyricon” is no exception to the rules: in reviews, viewers often note that the actors are too expressive and in some cases are clearly replayed. It is possible that this is true, since a creative person, passionate about his work, sometimes really forgets about everything and devotes himself entirely to the process. However, whether it is considered a disadvantage, everyone decides for himself.
Also quite controversial for some viewers are the moments when the actors involved in the production use vivid expressive means: kicks, spitting, sweeping the stage. The guests of the theater believe that the staging of such a grandiose work could do without other, more cultural tricks that would be understandable to the Russian mentality.
Some viewers who know the director’s work and who have visited King Lear’s Satyricon note that there are a large number of stamps in the reviews that are repeated in a number of productions. In their opinion, the “symbol for the sake of symbol” technique is often used when a particular technique does not fit into the general formulation system, but rather falls out of it, having no cultural relations with its components. A particular negative for women is the reception of exposure of men on stage, they believe that this is unacceptable for the theater.
Some guests of the theater have questions about the leading role. They believe that Konstantin Raikin plays the role of the king so that the latter seems like a notorious jester, and this does not go well with the tragic plot of the work. In this case, it is worth noting that we are still talking about the theater of satire, which is why the director thought of such an original and unusual production.
Some actors do not reach the level of their acting skills in order to play in the production of “King Lear” of “Satyricon” - in the reviews, viewers note that during the performances sometimes falsehood and insincerity are felt. There are also comments on the costumes of heroes, which often resemble casual clothes, found only in persons with antisocial behavior. Fortunately, the theater management listens to these reviews and even changes some fragments of the performance in order to make the viewer more comfortable, so there are more positive reviews each time.
The opinion of professionals
Critics very ambiguously met “King Lear”, the performance of “Satyricon” and to this day undergoes a thorough analysis. Especially professional theater art appraisers are confused by the excessive expressiveness and huge emotional palette used by the actors. In their opinion, the vast majority of members of the troupe engaged in this performance replay that is not good for the performance.
Some critics who have watched several versions of the aforementioned play, have expressed the idea that what they saw in Satyricon was somehow repeated in Butusov’s previous productions. Copying their own creativity, in their opinion, cannot be considered as creative growth. The character of Konstantin Raikin is considered in the same way, critics do not see Lear's original embodiment in the play, it seems to be woven from hundreds of different kings played before.
There are also defenders of the play who are well aware of what the Satyricon Theater is. They see King Lear as a production that has nothing to do with Shakespeare's classic work. A game without rules, without a definite finish and a path to it - all these are the distinctive features of Butusov’s work, which perceives its staging as an unusual game. The main character appears to fans of the play as an inexplicable personality, combining the features of a child, a tyrant and an old man. Lear does not understand what is happening around, and at some point begins to naturally go crazy, revealing the vices of the people around him.
Enlightenment comes at the most critical moments for each character in the play. Each of the sisters goes crazy in their own way, passionately and emotionally, the actresses, according to critics, give all the best to 100%, wanting to convey to their viewers the idea of the need for respect and reverence in the family. Lear's insight, coming to him through tears and laughter, is combined with pain and horror, expressed in a bright finale, where the king unsuccessfully tries to put his dead heirs at the piano, and they constantly fall. The old man’s desire to return to the past, where the children were happy and loved each other, is understandable, but, alas, untimely.
Why is it worth going to the production of Satyricon?
An original reading of the British classic and the use of techniques to "embed" the narrative in any temporary outline are some of the main reasons to visit King Lear in the Satyricon. the duration of the performance is 3 hours, so you should be mentally prepared in advance. The production is just one 15-minute intermission, during which you can admire the expositions of photographs of theater actors and visit the local buffet.
Despite the fact that the performance was created based on a classic literary work, it has an age qualification - children under 12 years old are not recommended to attend it. There are many reasons for this - including the demonstration by the protagonist of his underwear. If you are going to go to the “King Lear” in the “Satyricon”, it is forbidden to take photos of the production and video recordings, as at any other similar event - this is worth remembering. Failure to comply with this prohibition may result in an administrative fine for violators, and if pirated videos are distributed, the theater, as the copyright holder of the play, has the right to sue.
The remarks of cultural scholars and art lovers are always taken into account when preparing for the show of King Lear in the Satyricon: the duration with which the performance takes place in the theater indicates that it has remained in demand for the past 12 years. If you want to get a real aesthetic pleasure from going to the theater, it is best to get acquainted with Shakespeare’s book in advance, as well as with literary works written by leading researchers of this writer. Special impressions are guaranteed for those who can read the tragedy in the original.
How to buy tickets?
If you want to visit the performance of King Lear in the Satyricon, it is better to purchase tickets in a few months, because they are sold out very quickly. The cost of the entrance counter frame ranges from 1 to 6 thousand rubles, it will directly depend on the chosen place. The most expensive place will be located almost in front of the stage - in sector A, the minimum price here is 2 thousand rubles (11 rows), the maximum - 6 (from 1 to 5 rows). The most profitable tickets can be bought in the left or right box, they cost from 1 to 1.5 thousand rubles, but there is a significant drawback - part of the scene will not be visible, which will not allow you to fully and completely enjoy the performance.
Since tickets are sold out in advance, it’s best to decide on the date of the trip to “King Lear” to “Satyricon” in a couple of months, it is better to choose a place in the central part of the hall to see absolutely all the action. However, here everything will depend on the availability of free finance, so the decision is yours. Tickets can be purchased at the box office of the theater itself, as well as at numerous universal points of sale where counter-tickets are implemented for absolutely all performances in Moscow and the region.
How to get to the theater?
Before going to a cultural institution, be sure to specify on which stage King Lear will be shown: Satyricon has several sites, the main one of which is at Sheremetyevskaya, 8 - is currently under reconstruction. The exact timing of the completion of the repair is unknown, therefore, the performances are now being shown on other sites. Two of them are located next to the theater - on Sheremetyevskaya street, in houses 2 and 6/2. The easiest way to get there is by metro; you will need to get out at the Maryina Roshcha station.
It is possible that the production of “King Lear” “Satyricon” will also be carried out at other venues, the addresses of these creative spaces are Arbat, 24 and 26. Despite the fact that these buildings are located immediately two stages of the Theater. Vakhtangov, actors and spectators loyally share them with their guests from the theater of satire. Since Arbat is closed to public transport, it is easiest to get to the nearest metro stations - Smolenskaya or Arbatskaya, and then walk a bit along one of the oldest streets in Moscow.