Musical "Hollywood diva": reviews

The play "The Hollywood Diva" was based on the operetta, which was unfamiliar to the Russian audience, which came from the pen of the Austrian composer Ralph Benacki. It was adapted by director Cornelius Baltus, which resulted in an interesting and very bright musical.

From "Axel" to "Diva"

Initially, the operetta under the intricate name "Axel at the Gate of Heaven" was created in the form of a parody of Hollywood movies. It has wonderful music, honed dance numbers, sparkling humor ... The bright and juicy roles of the main characters are so interesting that each of the stars of the cinema and theater of that time (let's not be deceiving, and the last decades) would gladly translate them on stage.

All current events surround the star of Hollywood Gloria Mills and secular journalist Axel, who very much hopes to use the actress for his own purposes, in order to accelerate his career growth.

From the 20th century to the 21st century

For the first time Benetzky's operetta could be seen on the Viennese stage as early as 1936. Then the success was overwhelming. At that time it was put over two hundred times. The Swedish actress Tsara Leander, who starred in the musical, became one of the most famous and beloved public stars.

Director Cornelius Baltus in the process of changing the name of his production four times, while he chose the last and the best. So there was a musical comedy "Hollywood diva". In it you can feel the energy inherent exclusively in this genre. On the stage, the grandeur of the atmosphere of the thirties was recreated, and new very interesting episodes were added to the already existing music.

Story line

"Hollywood diva" - a musical whose premiere can be considered not only Russian, but also world, tells the story of movie star Glirii Mills and young journalist Axel, who lives in hope of progressing through the career ladder thanks to the publication in the newspaper of an interview with impregnable Gloria. In this production there are many love triangles, investigations, disguises, Russian emigrants. In general, all that is so inherent in the Viennese operetta.

The scene is the same Hollywood. Perhaps for a long-standing genre it's a little exotic, but ... Just known to millions of the world's capital of the film industry and became the main character of the play. But if the original production was, if I may say so, a parody of a "dream factory", then the "Hollywood diva" Became in a sense a grateful monument to the cinema and a fabulously beautiful and elegant cinema epoch of the thirties of the twentieth century.

And visually, and by ear - a complete pleasure

Watching the performance visually, it can be understood that a careful examination of the hotel's suite, the pavilion of the film studio, the interiors of the Axel apartment give a complete pleasure. Special gratitude to the artistic director from Hungary Kentauera for the huge typewriter, on the keys of which Axel joyfully dances in the finale of the first act.

And all this can be seen in the musical "Hollywood Diva". Reviews of him express the diametrically opposed theatrical opinion: from admiration to misunderstanding of why some actors were invited.

An indisputable find of the performance is the choreography by Dennis Callahan from the USA. It is very easy for viewers to perceive a scene that displays tap dancing in prison, despite the fact that this action is somewhat reminiscent of "Prison Tango", shown in "Chicago". Also the work of the choir and orchestra under the direction of Andrey Alekseev is magnificent.

Perhaps not everyone can understand what else (except such a fertile aesthetics) could attract the directors of this performance. Connoisseurs of beauty express the opinion that Benacki's work on Axel, despite the fact that it is not devoid of raisin, hardly has the right to claim for itself the status of a masterpiece that was unfairly forgotten.

Drozdova VS Rulla: who is better?

Let us dwell on the play itself. The images of the two main characters come to the forefront: their mutual relations loom quite carefully. Performers of the musical "Hollywood Diva" Decided to emphasize the inequality of partners in the social and age aspects (this is familiar to viewers long ago, since the appearance of the "Princess of the Circus" and "Queen Chardash"); In addition, even the Stockholm syndrome was affected.

Actress of the Moscow theater "Contemporary" Olga Drozdova was invited to the musical for the role of Gloria. She was able to reveal her dramatic potential, easily finding a rather non-trivial and even somewhere ironic look at the movie star she had embodied. And everything works out well enough for her, if you do not pay attention to a significant nuance: according to the script, Gloria sings. But Drozdova never knew how to sing. The maximum that can be said about her vocal data is that the actress declares rather well to the music of the phrase. But it looks like a weird thing in a musical performance.

What is nicer to hear: speech or singing?

Here you can get a little distracted from the modern view of the play "Hollywood diva" and go deeper into history.

Tsar Leander (mentioned above) was also not the owner of the academic vocal school. But still ... Surprisingly beautiful timbre of her voice - velvety, thick (the sound was almost baritonal) - gave her the opportunity to once gain the status of not only a cult actress, but also a singer ... And here we must pay attention to the fact, That in another composition Gloria is performed by Lika Rulla. She is well-known to theater-goers who adore the genre of musical with adoration. Already in her vocals do not have to doubt (about her beautiful voice, painted with a certain juiciness, they say for a long time). Therefore, those who want to listen not just words but singing, it is better to come to the play, where she will shine on the stage.

Tino Tatsiano and others ...

If you turn your eyes to the actor, who embodied the role of swindler Tino Tatsiano on the stage - and this is the famous Russian actor Dmitry Pevtsov (and part-time husband Olga Drozdova) - then he can quite well demonstrate good vocals. And he is really good at singing, especially compared with Dmitry's timid attempts to make musical sounds in "The Witches of Eastwick". Unfortunately, despite the presence of a talented actor, his character remained an operetta in the most negative sense of the word.

Unfortunately, in the same way the majority of the characters in the second plan show the musical "Hollywood Diva". The responses to this production are probably very strict and in some ways even biased. But do not be surprised, because the audience, not so often overstepping the threshold of theaters, and avid (in the good sense of the word) theatergoers who do not miss a single premiere show, want to see something enchanting.

Heroes of the second plan

Let's dwell on three characters, which should not be overlooked. Very bright and interesting episode - the scene of the court. In the role of Judge Apfelbaum - Andrei Matveev, in the role of an eccentric Russian immigrant - Valentina Kosobutskaya. The actors managed to create an amazing actor's duet, which the public liked the premiere of the show, causing its full approval.

But the most convincing, according to many viewers of the musical "Hollywood diva" (reviews about the performance in general and the actors engaged in it, speak for themselves) is an interesting and slightly amusing aria of the emigrant - maid Diana. It is about the constant longing for home, but especially for tasty soup and sparkling kvass. This character was beautifully embodied by Catherine Popova.

What to say in conclusion?

Perhaps it will seem strange to someone, but, apart from the amazing choreography and neat scenography, which quite modernly stylizes the interiors of the early twentieth century, the main decoration of the play "Hollywood Diva" Are exactly male actors. Looks great film producer Mak Scott in the performance of Alexander Byron: stylish, smart, elegant, subtle, cynical, but moderately. The microphone singing of the actor is simply flawless: the natural timbre is so beautiful - a baritone that only benefits from a tactful reverberation. Complete the description of his male charisma and artistic organics.

Charming and very mobile young reporter Axel (played by Oleg Krasovitsky). The guy with special talent deceives the audience, unobtrusively appearing on the stage in the guise of an old-timer. Even the main character - Gloria - does not notice any discrepancy. The voice of the actor is not strong, but quite expressive. It is very plastic and elegant.

As for the character of Dmitry Pevtsov - Tino Tatsiano, a swindler with a false title of Prince, he was not originally on the stage, he was only mentioned. But in the musical, he found a life, although a bit sketchy.

In conclusion, we can say that the musical, about which so much has been said and written, is really like an experiment through which all genre boundaries can be erased. It's like a nice musical comedy, which is simple and naive and understandable as an aesthetic, and an ordinary housewife.

But anyway, this production is worthy of attention of the honorable public. And at least once, but you can see the performance not only, but you also need to - you will not have to regret it.