"The dream came true": Buzova performed on the stage of the Moscow Art Theater

On Friday, June 11, the last premiere of the theatrical season will take place at the Gorky Moscow Art Theater: the performance "The Wonderful Georgian" based on the play by Andrei Nazarov will be shown on the stage.

In the center of the plot is the young Joseph Stalin.

One of the roles in the production went to the singer and TV presenter Olga Buzova.

The creative team of the theater calls "The Wonderful Georgian" a research performance, an attempt to figure out how the unknown Joseph Dzhugashvili became one of the greatest figures in world history.

The action begins in 1924 at the XIII Congress of the RCP (b), as a result of which Stalin retained the post of general secretary of the party.

Before the vote, he is worried.

First, the viewer finds himself in his bedroom and observes a bed scene between Joseph and his wife.

Then Stalin recalls his youth, and the viewer is transported to 1902, to the city of Batum - that was the name of the capital of Adjara, where Soso Dzhugashvili was sent by the party as an underground revolutionary to raise the labor movement and promote the ideas of Marxism.

The main role in the production was played by actor Georgy Iobadze.

“It is interesting for me to play the soul of a character - Stalin.

And I love, and Renata understood me, to express the hero's soul through plasticity, and not to show an accent, ”said Georgy.

In the play, he often switches to the Georgian language.

Vladimir Lenin called the young Stalin a “wonderful Georgian”.

The director of the play, Renata Sotiriadi, created two images of Lenin on stage: one is still quite young and energetic with his wife-colleague Nadezhda Krupskaya, who writes down every word behind him and carries a suitcase, the second is a talking monument that makes it clear that his ideas live after his death.  

For many years, the general public was not told about Stalin's youth.

According to the theater's artistic director Eduard Boyakov, archives were raised to work on the play, which were previously hidden under the heading "Secret".

“Everything about this play is very deep, very honest and very real.

First, there is a huge historical base.

I want you to believe me - this is the largest study of a historical nature.

All the facts that are in it, they are absolutely honest.

This is history.

As you may have noticed, there are no ratings here either, ”Boyakov says.

• A scene from the play "The Wonderful Georgian".

  Lomjaria - Honored Artist of the Russian Federation Maxim Dakhnenko, Stalin - Georgy Iobadze.

• © Photo by Natalia Gubernatorova.

  Provided by the press service of the Moscow Art Theater.

  M. Gorky.

Kirill Razlogov, a film critic and doctor of art history who attended the press screening, assessed the production as follows: “Truth in art is generally a relative thing. There is persuasiveness. First of all, in quotes. The grain of truth that they wanted to show was shown. Someone else will show it differently. Everyone has their own truth, but one truth. And where is this one truth - no one knows. "

Director Renata Sotiriadi and artist Irina Titorenko brought to life many original stage solutions: hospitable Georgian feasts accompanied by live music, Georgian polyphony, lezginka, drums, duduk and panduri.

The wealth of the head of the port crime Batum is emphasized by a trained monkey in a dress.

At one of the turning points in the narrative, a rock band with a drum kit and electric guitars appears from behind the scenery.

The audience is invited to interact: it is the audience who must vote and decide whether Stalin will be the General Secretary of the Communist Party or not.  

Olga Buzova's invitation to the role of the cabaret singer Bella Chantal caused a wide public outcry.

The idea to call the TV presenter belonged to the artistic director of the theater, but not everyone supported his decision.

Buzova, however, noted that she did not delve into what was happening in the information space.

“I completely immersed myself in the production process, in the process of creating my image and my role, so I simply do not have time to read this criticism,” she said.

Nevertheless, Buzova assured that she was ready for constructive criticism.

“After our communication, I will listen to Edward, catch his every word.

I will ask my partners how comfortable we are - not comfortable, where to subtract - where to add.

I’ll listen to Renata, our amazing director.

I am ready to hear their criticism.

And, of course, the audience.

If you don't like something, tell us, we will take into account all the comments.

I’m for sure.

And insults, negativity and hate - it has nothing to do with me, ”- said Buzova after the press screening.

• A scene from the play "The Wonderful Georgian".

• © Photo by Natalia Gubernatorova, press service of the Moscow Art Theater.

  M. Gorky

The actress called “The Wonderful Georgian” “the main premiere of the year” and explained why she considers the performance to be the main event in her life.

“At the age of 16, I dreamed of going to the theater.

But my mother didn’t let me.

And today, before your eyes, my dream, the dream of a 16-year-old girl who obeyed her mother and graduated from St. Petersburg State University with honors, has come true, ”Buzova emphasized.

She also revealed that she got a "very, very important" role.

“At the end of the performance, it turns out that it was Bella who warned comrade Soso.

A key figure that is actually very large.

There are no small and bad roles for a good actor, ”the artist explained.

Film critic Kirill Razlogov noted that due to Olga Buzova's participation in the play, "the theater gained attention."

“There are significantly more press than at other press shows.

With which Boyakov can be congratulated regardless of how you feel about Stalin, the performance, Buzova, and so on, ”Razlogov explained.

He added that there is a certain sarcasm in the fact that it was Buzova who was invited to the role of Chantal.

“She parodies herself.

Dom-2 itself is an object of sarcasm to a certain extent.

And she was taken for this role as the bearer of this sarcasm.

I think she is aware of this.

She is probably not a stupid woman, otherwise she would not have made such a career, ”the film critic concluded.

The premiere screenings of The Wonderful Georgian at the Gorky Moscow Art Theater will take place on June 11 and 12.

Tickets for the performance are no longer available for sale, but they can be purchased from dealers.

So, two tickets to the mezzanine will cost the audience 150 thousand rubles.