Since the beginning of the 18th century, Petersburg has been considered the center of theatrical life in Russia, because the first theater - the Opera House - appeared here under Peter I.
And although he did not exist for long, in subsequent reigns theatrical art more and more firmly entered the everyday life of citizens. Amazing foreign troupes worked here - from Germany, Italy, France, England.
And under Empress Elizaveta Petrovna, his own - professional - Russian theater was also instituted. In addition to the court, and then state, private theaters in the northern capital have always functioned, very small in size. The Rainy Theater in St. Petersburg also belongs to these.
Foundation History
The Rainy Theater was founded on April 7, 1990. According to one version, its name is associated with rainy weather in St. Petersburg. According to another, and so many believe, by the name of the first performance, which eventually became the hallmark of the theater. But more on that later.
Among the first actors of the Rainy Theater of St. Petersburg were Alexander Ivanov, Julia Akhmedshina, Denis Aksenov, Alexander Klementovich, Alexander Makov, Sam Petrov and others.
A cozy theatrical was located in a small basement on the very shore of one of the famous rivers, not far from the equally famous Holy Trinity Cathedral, which was the temple of the Izmailovsky Regiment in the 19th century. Address of the Rainy Theater in St. Petersburg: 130 Fontanka Embankment.
Business card
Let us return to the visiting card of the Rainy Theater, tickets for the performance of which are very difficult to get in St. Petersburg, especially if it goes on its own site. This is the play "The seller of the rain."
The production was based on a play by the American writer Richard Nash of the same name. The first show took place at the end of May 1992. According to the idea of the directors, a lyrical comedy lasting 2 hours 40 minutes and one intermission was obtained.
The plot is based on the life of a family of an American farmer named Curry. Against the backdrop of nature dying from the heat, dramatic events unfold between family members, family problems are brewing, which they themselves cannot solve. How will they come out of such difficult circumstances? Of course, with his head held high! Indeed, in a comedy everything always ends well and there is always room for cheerful laughter. Let sometimes with tears in his eyes.
Gone in the ages ...
There was once such a performance in the Rainy Theater - “Ehay!”, Staged based on the play by N. Sadur. Whoever staged Sadur's plays, often the audience, yawning, left in half an hour. But not with "Ehai!" There are only three characters, and there are so many experiences that the car cannot be taken away!
S. Petrov, A. Makov and Yu. Akhmedshina masterfully reveal such a painful and complicated at all times theme of human loneliness and the theme of empathy, the theme of an event that changes our destiny, and the theme of self-knowledge, the eternal questions of human values. The images played by the actors are very familiar and at the same time unfamiliar to each of us, sometimes vague, as if ghostly. With their help, both the characters and the audience in the course of the development of the plot rethink reality, changing value orientations.
It is not known, as in other theaters, but at the Rainy Theater, no doubt, no one remained indifferent and left after the performance with tears in his eyes and a load of thought for the long hours to come, or even days. And it’s very sad that this production of the theater is a thing of the past ...
According to Chekhov
The repertoire of the Rainy Theater has three performances based on the works of A.P. Chekhov - "Three Sisters", "The Seagull" and "Uncle Vanya".
The comedy of the Rain Theater "The Seagull" is the story of a surprisingly talented and very lonely person and artist, about faith and love, and, of course, about the meaning of life. The images are fragile and fuzzy, at any moment the image that appears in the imagination of the viewer can fly to smithereens.
The roles are played by the most brilliant theater actors, which is a good foundation for creating high-quality classics on the modern stage.
But the play "Uncle Vanya" is rather pessimistic, it makes one return to such complex philosophical problems as a midlife crisis, disappointment in life and love, lack of desire to live and act. But not everything is as hopeless as it seems. In the course of action and comprehension, the belief is revived that all bad things will someday end, and the trials given by life only temper a person and make him rethink life.
Children's session
The first and, perhaps, the most famous children's performance at the Rainy Theater of St. Petersburg was "The Snow Queen" based on the play by Schwartz. Unfortunately, it is already hidden in the archive.
It was a very emotional performance, which made us think about love and respect, about devotion and friendship, about honesty and betrayal, about meanness and cowardice, about the courage and courage of heroes familiar to everyone from childhood. The performance was attended with pleasure not only by young spectators, but also by the adult generation, returning during childhood to a fairy tale.
Makes me think!
The second no less successful performance was "Rag Doll". However, this performance is already for family viewing, as people of different generations perceive it in their own way, thinking about problems in life, ways to solve them, human values, all that there is not enough time to think about in the bustle of modern life.
In addition to "Rag Doll", now on the stage of the Rainy Theater there are no less successful "Wild" by G. H. Andersen, "O'Dnab" by O. Henry and a completely new production, which is only a year old, "True, we will always?"
According to numerous reviews, the Rainy Theater in St. Petersburg is a place that you just need to visit. As a result of viewing, most come out with a feeling of incredible shock and admiration! And with a lot of topics to think about.