Theater in NYC: Love and Intrigue by Maly Drama Theater of St. Petersburg at BAM

Love, deception, and a curse of class boundaries in a delicious production by Lev Dodin and Maly Drama Theater of St. Petersburg

Maly Drama Theater of St. Petersburg is returning to the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) with a remarkable production of “Love and Intrigue” on June 6-16, 2018. The original play was written by Friedrich Schiller in 1787 under the title Kabale und Liebe. It was later used by Guiseppe Verdi for his opera Luisa Miller. The fact that it was extremely popular in the 18th century as it is now is an attestation to the universal values of love and morality. The dramatic plot is as potent now as it was back then if not even more so. And while some may think that theatricality is taking rein in the finale, the production looks fresh and exceptionally compelling.

With its acclaimed cast of such beloved actors as Danila Kozlovsky as Ferdinand, Ksenia Rappoport as Lady Milford, Elizaveta Boyarskaya and Ekaterina Tarasova alternating as Louise, the performance promises to be a delicious fete for every theater lover.

This is the fourth time Maly Drama Theater comes to BAM.  Before this year Love and Intrigue, it had brought Cherry Orchard in 2016, Three Sisters in 2012 and Uncle Vanya in 2010. The NYT review of the “Three Sisters” notes that “Lev Dodin’s production is marked by emotionally vibrant, precisely detailed performances in virtually all of the significant roles”. The director’s take on the classic staples of theater repertoire puts a magnifying glass to the insincerity, pretense, and selfishness in human relationships. This year production is no exception. The difference in this year’s choice is that the story of love deteriorates into a senseless tragedy worth of Shakespeare’s attention. The selfishness growth into despotism, insincerity into deception and the pretense masks the society’s ills.

 

Friedrich Schiller was only 24 when he wrote the play. Even before its publication, he was writing about a cabal of social constraints leading to their imposition on relationships in the society. The moral of the play proved its potency in the 19th century with Verdi writing one of his magnificent operas based on Schiller’s work.

In the hands of Lev Dodin, the subject of ruthless norms forced on people in order to maintain power over them gets to a high point of clarity. It becomes obvious that decent people can not withstand the senseless despotism, yet there is no way of fighting it. The tragic end looks like the only way out. When the play premiered in St. Petersburg in 2010, the critics noted elements of not-too-subtle hints to the current political environment in the country. That makes the disastrous resolve all too serious. Luckily the script leaves a lot of space for humor and mockery. But the disaster is still looming.

The spare stage design in black and white accentuates the tough struggle and puts the full spotlight on the actors who glow in their artistic excellence. The lovers, Ferdinand (D. Kozlovsky) and Louise (E. Boyarskaya and Ekaterina Tarasova), are made for each other to such a degree that even the director is happy with their performance. It is a pretty high point to score for actors when a theater director himself believes in the emotions that are playing out on stage. The seductive force of Lady Milford in K. Rappoport acting is hard to resist. The rest of the cast are equally effective.

So while everyone in the play is driven by a personal gain at any cost, the spectacle makes for a timely tale for the world we are living in now. It will be a delight for anyone looking for bold and genius theater. The play is in Russian with English titles.

Dates and tickets:

Wednesday, June 6, 2018 at 7.30pm 

Thursday, June 7, 2018 at 7.30pm

Friday, June 8, 2018 at 7.30pm

Saturday, June 9, 2018 at 7.30pm

Sunday, June 10, 2018 at 3.00pm

Tuesday, June 12, 2018 at 7.30pm

Wednesday, June 13, 2018 at 7.30pm

Thursday, June 14, 2018 at 7.30pm

Friday, June 15, 2018 at 7.30pm

Saturday, June 16, 2018 at 7.30pm

Venue: 30 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217