Within the efficiency, the Jewish world of Vilnius opens up, languages wrestle, jostle – as if within the streets of Vilnius that had already disappeared, as if testifying to a civilization that has already disappeared. Depend Potocki converts from Christianity to Judaism and is condemned to die on the stake. What’s such a sacrifice value and what does it imply in the present day to die for beliefs?
That is the final and long-awaited premiere of VST this season. The present is proven in Lithuanian, Russian, Yiddish with subtitles.
Who’s Šolomas Zelmanavičius, the hitherto undiscovered litvak of the Lithuanian theatre?
Šolomas Zelmanavičius (1898–1941?) – Vilnius-born painter, author, playwright, scenographer, a colourful character of the interwar Kaunas bohemian, undeservedly forgotten, with an advanced destiny. Interwar Lithuanian journalists wrote not solely regarding Š. Zelmanavičius’s work, but additionally regarding his adventures – the artist was an distinctive character within the bohemian lifetime of Kaunas.
Sh. Zelmanavičius labored as a decorator’s assistant on the State Theater in Kaunas, created surroundings for performances, costumes for the Hebrew Theater of Kaunas, organized two big private exhibitions, was very productive, experimented so much within the early interval of his work, studied the chances of expression offered by impressionism, primitivism, cubism, expressionism and pictures.
On account of his versatile actions, exhibitions, adventures, friendliness and openness, he was well-known by Kaunas society, particularly the theater and artwork viewers. Sadly, the Holocaust took the lifetime of the artist and stopped his creative exercise. It’s believed that Sholom and his spouse Brocha have been most probably killed in 1941. Kaunas ghetto, as a result of no additional details regarding them has been discovered.
Picture of Vilnius Previous Theater/Šolomas Zelmanavičius. Expensive To Zalman Troib – a present from the creator, 10/31/1934, Kaunas
He was burned on the stake for his beliefs
“A convert. Depend Potocki from Vilnius” is Jonas Vaitkaus’s stage imaginative and prescient based mostly on Š. Zelmanavičius’ dramatic legend “Ger tzedekas”. Depend Potockis from Vilnius”, artworks, written and spoken sources of Jewish tradition. Š. Zelmanavičius’ play in Yiddish (“Ger cedek. Vilner graf Potocki”) was printed in 1934 in a really small version. in Kaunas. Ger tzedek is a Hebrew time period which means a righteous proselyte, an individual who transformed to the Jewish religion, a convert.
The convert Depend Potockis is a partly historic individual, an individual who was burnt in Vilnius for his beliefs 275 years in the past. Š. Zelmanavičius tailored an outdated Jewish legend a few wealthy Christian younger man who accepted Judaism into the play, which has develop into an inseparable a part of Jewish folklore not solely in Vilnius, but additionally in the entire of Japanese Europe. There are a number of written accounts of the legend, however the fundamental motif of the story has remained the identical all through the ages – the tragic destiny of a noble Christian who renounces not solely his wealth and social standing, but additionally his life for the sake of the Jewish religion.
Picture by Laura Žaliauskaitė. /The play “The convert. Depend Potocki from Vilnius” rehearsal second
A number of layers are very clear within the play: the drama of Depend Potocki and Judith’s love and the Depend’s duality (two souls stay in him), which is accompanied by a transparent need to purify oneself, repent of sins, and attempt for purity. The rely is a truth-seeker, confession turns into a leitmotif that continuously accompanies this individual. Hearth cleanses greatest, however on this case fireplace is the executioner, the punishment.
Can we nonetheless die for beliefs? The place is the road between sacrifice, fanaticism and naivety? And generally, would not the pursuit of cleanliness, modesty, and moderation contradict the ideology of the “good life” that prevails in the present day?
Jonas Vaitkus: “The play clearly exposes two beginnings – human and misanthropic”
The creative director of the efficiency, Jonas Vaitkus, who introduced playwright Š. Zelmanavičius to the theater nearly 100 years later: “Artwork was not sufficient for him, apparently he wished to shout a really severe factor – that religions are associated. Religion has a standard attribute – Love. And doesn’t encourage cruelty. Religion encourages one to be a warrior, a defender, however not a conqueror. Nobody wished to find this substance – it’s harmful. All the pieces.”
When J. Vaitkus was requested what evokes him with this distinctive materials, he opened up: “To begin with, the significance of religions and religion. From how deeply an individual accepts religion, one can see its essence. If for the sake of religion an individual can sacrifice one thing, perhaps even himself, his well-being, you then perceive that he’s not hypocritical, as a result of religion offers power. I can not say whether or not his religion is true or good. In Š. Zelmanavičius’s play, two faiths collide – Hebrew and Christian. Each faiths have many factors of frequent floor when you respect and hearken to them. It appears to me that the play expresses the publicity of two beginnings – human and philanthropic. Have no illusions that you do not have that beast within you.”
Picture by Laura Žaliauskaitė. /The play “The convert. Depend Potocki from Vilnius” rehearsal second
Multilingualism, Vilnius Jewish world
Within the play, Š. Zelmanavičius creates the colourful Jewish world of Vilnius, reveals Jewish historical past, faith and traditions. A particular position Š. Zelmanavičius is devoted to Vilnius Gaon, though the hero himself doesn’t seem within the play.
The play is written in a wealthy, energetic, emotional language, it is filled with phrases and expressions attribute of the Hebrew language and the Litvak dialect. As a way to keep as a lot authenticity as attainable and convey the colorfulness of the language, some names of Jewish cultural and non secular realities usually are not translated within the textual content.
Within the efficiency, languages (Yiddish, Lithuanian, Russian, Hebrew) combat, jostle – as if within the streets of Vilnius that had already disappeared, as if testifying to a civilization that has already disappeared.
Picture by Laura Žaliauskaitė. /The play “The convert. Depend Potocki from Vilnius” rehearsal second
Director Albertas Vidžiūnas: “Š. Zelmanavičius’s play in regards to the convert Depend Potockis, created in reminiscence of his mother and father, goals to know the important, deadly motives of spiritual religion. In energetic, colourful and mystical scenes, the states of the characters are dramatically offered, and the tragic destiny of the nobleman, who renounced every part within the identify of religion, highlights the nervousness, cruelty and, on the identical time, nice piety of society.”
Actor Maksimas Tuchvatulinas: “How does it really feel when you’re burned on the stake?”
The principle position of Depend Potocki was entrusted to actor Maksim Tuchvatulin: “What does the position of Potocki imply to me?” In such a efficiency, the principle position is performed for the primary time. This excites me. An ideal duty awaits. And the position is just not very difficult. All the pieces revolves round Potocki, though Potocki himself performs a comparatively small position. It is not the primary time I’ve labored with Vaitkum, I like the way in which he does it. How he fills each scene, breathes life into it. I might be glad that they believed and trusted me.”
The actor, when requested the way it feels to be burned on the stake, even on stage, solely joked: “We’ve not rehearsed this scene but…”
Talking in regards to the selection of the actor, J. Vaitkus famous that he appreciates the actor youth, constructive naivety and sincerity, and the truth that Mr. Tuchvatulinas doesn’t have absolute skilled expertise, which often corrupts an individual.
Picture by Laura Žaliauskaitė. /The play “The convert. Depend Potocki from Vilnius” rehearsal second
A large inventive arsenal
A lot of the troupe of the Vilnius Previous Theater performs within the play. Scenography and lighting designer – Artūras Šimonis, costume designer – Jolanta Rimkutė, composer – Rita Mačiliūnaitė, choreographer – Leokadija Dabužinskaitė, authors of projections – Agnė Marcinkevičiūtė, Artūras Šimonis, Darius Budrys. Lara Lempertienė and Vilma Gradinskaitė got here to the rescue with out consultants educated regarding Jewish tradition.
The scenography and video projections use the works of Š. Zelmanavičius, illustrations of the play, and archival images. In line with J. Vaitkaus, exterior decorativeness is prevented as a lot as attainable within the efficiency, and this hazard is usually current when working with historic materials.
The musical layer is extraordinarily necessary within the efficiency. Composer Rita Mačiliūnaitė: “Whereas studying the play, a number of musical themes instantly rang out in my thoughts: I knew that I wish to hear a stay cello, actors singing and talking musically. The duality of the rely and the presence of souls as characters on the stage additionally dictated one of many technique of composition – stay and pre-recorded voices sound concurrently.
Within the play, Š. Zelmanavičius creates the colourful Jewish world of Vilnius, reveals Jewish historical past, faith and traditions.
That is the fourth efficiency that I’m creating with J. Vaitkus, in all of them we don’t keep away from singing numbers. The precept of multilingualism utilized by the director gave extra alternatives to the music and the actors’ vocal numbers, as a result of multilingualism is just not solely a powerful dramatic side, but additionally a musical one.”
Jolanta Rimkutė: “Our most important variations usually are not in our costumes, however in our heads, our religion”
The costumes for the efficiency have been created by artist Jolanta Rimkutė: “It was a problem for me, as a result of the motion takes place within the 18th century. in the course of Lithuania, within the Jewish neighborhood. It was essential to learn the way the townspeople, Lithuanians and Jews of that point dressed, so I needed to learn numerous literature. Though I’ve created many historic costumes, such a particular LDK interval was new. I needed to get to know the occasions and solely then make choices. The troupe is giant, so it was essential to seek out options to shortly rework the identical actor into one other character. This is without doubt one of the large challenges of this manufacturing. Solely by cooperating with the scenographer and director, realizing the historic context, the content material of the play, can you’ve gotten your individual imaginative and prescient and resolve what you need to convey.”
J. Rimkutė famous that our most important variations usually are not in our costumes, however in our heads, in our religion, the looks of individuals is just not too completely different, the important variations lie in our religion. In in the present day’s society, individuals gown very equally however have very completely different beliefs.
The costume designer was glad that Mr. Vaitkus permits you to not know every part till the tip, which supplies the theater a way of surprise. The theater is a spot of miracles, so much is born within the final week earlier than the premiere. That is the final and long-awaited premiere of VST this season. The present is proven in Lithuanian, Russian, Yiddish with subtitles.
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2024-06-11 19:27:40
