6 Read the dialogue and find what Lisa says about the theatre, the theatre director, the stage design, the decorations, the actors' performance, the plot, the overall impression the play produces and the reaction of the audience.
Lisa: So, Dima, Jasper from the Drama Club asked me to make a report on an inten Moscow theatre premiere. Which one should I tell him about?
Dima: Oh, I think you should talk about the Bolshoi or the Moscow Art Theatre, don't you? They are world famous.
Lisa: No, I think he wants something new. Besides, he knows more about the Bolshoi than I do. I have only been there once and I thought the opera I saw was a bit of a drag.
Dima: Yes, that's true. Wait a minute. Just before we left for the US, you went to a play at the Peter Fomenko Workshop Theatre, didn't you? I remember you were really impressed.
Lisa: Wait, how did you know? I wanted to tell you about it, but you didn't want to listen.
Dima: Oh, yeah. That's right. Sorry about that. I still want to know what made such a great impression on you. What was it called?
Lisa: It was called "The Fairy tale of the Forest of Arden" and was based on Shakespeare's famous play "As You Like It"1. Peter Fomenko and his friend Yuli Kim wrote the script. They took Shakespeare's play and retold it in their own words. Peter Fomenko, one of today's best theatre directors, also staged it.
Dima: What's the plot? Is it a comedy or a drama?
Lisa: It's a comedy and full of witty remarks and funny situations.
One of Shakespeare's most famous speeches, "All the world's a stage" is in it. The main character is Rosalind, the only daughter of a duke. Her father, the duke, loses his throne to his younger brother and flees to the Forest of Arden. Rosalind has to follow him, as she is unhappy in her uncle's court. She is accompanied by her loving cousin Celia and a court clown, Touchstone. Before she leaves, Rosalind falls in love with Orlando. Orlando goes to the forest to look for Rosalind. Celia's father, the new duke, finds out that his daughter is gone and sends his servants to the forest to find her. In the end everybody finds their happiness in the Forest of Arden and even the two dukes make up.
Dima: But how did they manage to retell Shakespeare's version?
Lisa: What they did sounds great. Peter Fomenko wrote the rhymed text and Yuli Kim wrote a lot of witty and beautiful songs. The music is not pre-recorded and the actors sing without microphones.
Dima: How is it possible? Were you able to hear anything at all?
Lisa: The theatre itself is very small. It's not like a usual theatre with stalls, dress circle, upper circle and balcony. It only has stalls with two, three or four rows which are situated around the stage.
Dima: Why is their theater so tiny?
Lisa: I think the small size allows for interesting experiments with stage design.
Dima: What do you mean by interesting experiments?
Lisa: Well you sit so close to the actors that you can actually look into their eyes. This is unusual. Then since there is no real stage, the action takes place right in front of you, so you get the illusion of being a part of the performance.
The decorations are simple and even primitive but perfectly functional. The illusion is so strong that soon you forget that the duke's castle is just a velvet armchair, the forest spring is just a bowl with water and the forest itself is just a couple of room plants in pots. The actors speak and sing in very natural voices as if they were simply talking to you.
Dima: And what about the actors' performances?
Lisa: Very good indeed, although there are very few stars. The main parts are played by very young actors and some of them are just beginners. More than three hours of the performance flew by. The play stays with you after it's over and makes you smile whenever you think about it.
Dima: It sounds amazing. I should have gone with you. Is it still on? Lisa: I think so. But as far as I know, the tickets are usually sold out
months in advance. The audience always receives Fomenko's work really well.
Dima: Oh, well. In any case, this is just what Jasper wants. It's a successful premiere, it's unusual and it's based on Shakespeare, so it's classic too.
Lisa: You're right. I won't find a better performance to write about.
Lisa: So, Dima, Jasper from the Drama Club asked me to make a report on an inten Moscow theatre premiere. Which one should I tell him about?
Dima: Oh, I think you should talk about the Bolshoi or the Moscow Art Theatre, don't you? They are world famous.
Lisa: No, I think he wants something new. Besides, he knows more about the Bolshoi than I do. I have only been there once and I thought the opera I saw was a bit of a drag.
Dima: Yes, that's true. Wait a minute. Just before we left for the US, you went to a play at the Peter Fomenko Workshop Theatre, didn't you? I remember you were really impressed.
Lisa: Wait, how did you know? I wanted to tell you about it, but you didn't want to listen.
Dima: Oh, yeah. That's right. Sorry about that. I still want to know what made such a great impression on you. What was it called?
Lisa: It was called "The Fairy tale of the Forest of Arden" and was based on Shakespeare's famous play "As You Like It"1. Peter Fomenko and his friend Yuli Kim wrote the script. They took Shakespeare's play and retold it in their own words. Peter Fomenko, one of today's best theatre directors, also staged it.
Dima: What's the plot? Is it a comedy or a drama?
Lisa: It's a comedy and full of witty remarks and funny situations.
One of Shakespeare's most famous speeches, "All the world's a stage" is in it. The main character is Rosalind, the only daughter of a duke. Her father, the duke, loses his throne to his younger brother and flees to the Forest of Arden. Rosalind has to follow him, as she is unhappy in her uncle's court. She is accompanied by her loving cousin Celia and a court clown, Touchstone. Before she leaves, Rosalind falls in love with Orlando. Orlando goes to the forest to look for Rosalind. Celia's father, the new duke, finds out that his daughter is gone and sends his servants to the forest to find her. In the end everybody finds their happiness in the Forest of Arden and even the two dukes make up.
Dima: But how did they manage to retell Shakespeare's version?
Lisa: What they did sounds great. Peter Fomenko wrote the rhymed text and Yuli Kim wrote a lot of witty and beautiful songs. The music is not pre-recorded and the actors sing without microphones.
Dima: How is it possible? Were you able to hear anything at all?
Lisa: The theatre itself is very small. It's not like a usual theatre with stalls, dress circle, upper circle and balcony. It only has stalls with two, three or four rows which are situated around the stage.
Dima: Why is their theater so tiny?
Lisa: I think the small size allows for interesting experiments with stage design.
Dima: What do you mean by interesting experiments?
Lisa: Well you sit so close to the actors that you can actually look into their eyes. This is unusual. Then since there is no real stage, the action takes place right in front of you, so you get the illusion of being a part of the performance.
The decorations are simple and even primitive but perfectly functional. The illusion is so strong that soon you forget that the duke's castle is just a velvet armchair, the forest spring is just a bowl with water and the forest itself is just a couple of room plants in pots. The actors speak and sing in very natural voices as if they were simply talking to you.
Dima: And what about the actors' performances?
Lisa: Very good indeed, although there are very few stars. The main parts are played by very young actors and some of them are just beginners. More than three hours of the performance flew by. The play stays with you after it's over and makes you smile whenever you think about it.
Dima: It sounds amazing. I should have gone with you. Is it still on? Lisa: I think so. But as far as I know, the tickets are usually sold out
months in advance. The audience always receives Fomenko's work really well.
Dima: Oh, well. In any case, this is just what Jasper wants. It's a successful premiere, it's unusual and it's based on Shakespeare, so it's classic too.
Lisa: You're right. I won't find a better performance to write about.