MOSCOW, June 21, Yulia Zachetova. In Latvia, Dmitry Krymov’s performance with Chulpan Khamatova was cancelled. This is not the first time that the tours of actors and directors who have left Russia have been “suddenly” interrupted. About how theater emigrants live, see the material .
Moratorium on Russian
The cancellation of the September screenings of “Notes of a Madman” with Chulpan Khamatova and Maxim Sukhanov was announced to local media by the director of the National Theater, Maris Vitols. He argued that during the conflict in Ukraine it is inappropriate to perform plays in Russian, so from now on the theater is introducing a moratorium on them.
However, Khamatova is no stranger to such breakdowns. In February 2023, the New Riga Theater already canceled “Old World Landowners” based on Nikolai Gogol a few days before the premiere. The reason is “creative failure” and low audience ratings. Artistic director Alvin Hermanis was unhappy with the actress. It’s interesting that Chulpan already worked with him in Russia, at the Theater of Nations. She shone in the production of “Gorbachev” together with Yevgeny Mironov, and then her talent did not raise any questions for Hermanis. Now, as the media report, she has left the troupe altogether and has become a freelancer.
New Israeli Theater?
The former chief director of the Perm Theater-Theatre, Vladimir Gurfinkel, and the ex-artistic director of the School of Modern Play, Joseph Raikhelgauz, are planning to open a state repertory Russian-language theater in Netanya. Local social activist Arkady Mayofis reported this on social networks. According to him, the mayor’s office is taking part in the project. Now professional actors and other theater workers are actively invited to the new troupe.
Last year in Israel, a Lenkom tour with the cult production “Funeral Prayer” was disrupted with a scandal. The director of the Russian theater, Mark Varshaver, then said that the troupe had received threats from “a bunch of hooligans led by actor Anatoly Bely*.” And that for the director, the health of the artists is more important than sold-out performances.
Additions to the lists
Bely* really has reasons for dissatisfaction. If in Russia he was overwhelmed with leading roles in cinema and theater, then in Israel his earnings sank — largely, according to the actor, due to lack of knowledge of the language. When Anatoly was recognized as a foreign agent, he wrote on social networks that this was “terrible bitterness.”
Rosinfomonitoring recently added Tatyana Lazareva** to the list of terrorists and extremists, and she was put on the wanted list. A criminal case has been opened against the comedian under the article “Public calls for terrorist activities, public justification of terrorism and propaganda of terrorism.” Lazareva** regularly condemned the SVO and spoke sarcastically about drone attacks on Russian cities. Now the former KVN participant lives in Spain.
Actress Yana Troyanova*, known for the film “Kokoko” and the TV series “Olga,” also criticized the Russian authorities on foreign information platforms. But at the same time she tried to challenge the status of a foreign agent, and then switched to radical statements. In a recent speech, she justified calls for the murder of Russians, including children. On this occasion, the Chairman of the Investigative Committee of Russia, Alexander Bastrykin, ordered to organize an inspection.
And so it happens
But not all artists who criticize the SVO fall into disgrace — some even receive awards. The «White Elephant» award for film experts, film critics and film journalists awarded the prize for the best leading male role to Alexander Filippenko in Rezo Gigineishvili's film «Patient No. 1». The award ceremony took place in an intimate setting, in a cafe in the capital. Filippenko, who condemned the SVO, left Russia and has recently been touring European countries, greeted those gathered via video link.
* An individual performing the functions of a foreign agent.
** An individual performing the functions of a foreign agent. Listed as terrorists and extremists.