Alfred Jarry  

A. Mirolyubova

Alexander Morfov  

Emil Kapelyush 

Sergey Gritsay

Gleb Filshtinsky, 

Vitaliy Chernuha

Boris Alfery 

145 min., with intermission  

Alexander Kalyagin, Olga Belova, Petr Smidovich, Nikolay Molochkov, Andrey Kondakov, Alexander Zhogol, h. a. Sergey Plotnikov, Angela Belyanskaya, h. a. Maria Skosyreva, Nataliya Zhitkova, Marina Churakova, Grigoriy Starostin, Kiril Shterbina, Fedor Bavtrikov, etc.

* The musical pieces are from the repertory of "Tiger Lillies" and arranged by Anatoly Serebrennikov. 

     In the history of modern French - and not only French - theatre Alfred Jarry's dramaturgical series about Ubu Roi is certainly among the works that conceive and further realise the new tendencies in performing arts on the verge of the approaching XX-th century. The idea about Ubu Roi originated from a school joke by a high-school teenager - "a character too extravagant and completely unaffected by the influence of its peers". The teenage boys would write all sorts of parodical and heroic poems regarding their teacher in physics. Many argue that in its final form the character of Francois Ubu still bears the scars of juvenile irresponsibility and certain immaturity. In 1896 the play was first staged at Théâtre de l'Œuvre in Paris - a theatre known for its affiliation towards symbolism. Due to his poetry attempts and some friendships among symbolism circles Jarry was also appointed as artistic secretary of the theatre and was generally well accepted there. Unlike his play. With its vulgar and corrupted language, moreover bearing a certain ridicule towards symbolism itself, the text was in obvious conflict with the elusive game of sense and with the vague visions usually found on this stage. It's life on the repertory was short. Jarry would not live to see another of his plays staged elsewhere but in a puppet theatre. It is true, though, that Jarry took some interest in the uncanny expressions of a puppet in connection with problems of general aesthetics.

     Jarry himself supported the idea about the abstract theatre - a theatre beyond what's temporary or transient, - and reached for bigger-scale problems. Time and place in Jarry's dramaturgy are indistinct, characters have no biographies and seem to simply jump out of the blue. Ubu is often understood as an impersonation of all eternal human weaknesses revealed in their grotesque, far-reaching absurdity. Those traits are so dense that they become schematic. Ubu is cold and repulsive. He does not bear any spiritual qualities, that is, he is hardly even human. What was once human about him has degraded to blind animal instincts. He is moved by endless egoism in a strive for satifying his avarice where cynism is his weapon. In the old school farce tradition Jarry has given us the perfect example of social commentary.

Accidental power, corrupting power, scathing power - a tragic reality skillfully staged as a cheerful buffoonery. 

REVIEWS:

[...] 

More: 

An elephant in a china shop - sad or funny? | Interview with A. Kalyagin by Olga Lavrova, Vash Dosug, 10.12.2001

Alexander Kalyagin: The Audience is a vary dangerous thing | Interview by Olga Korshakova, Novaya Gazeta, 14.01.2002 

The lovely shades of shit | Roman Dolzhanskiy, Kommersant, 23.01.2002

We are not afraid of Barmaley | Marina Davydova, Vramya Novostey, 23.01.2002

Written as a farce, staged as a farce | Maria Lvova, Vecherniy Klub, 24.01.2002

The wide arena is thundering with forbidden words | Nataliya Kaminskaya, Kultura, 24.01.2002

Charley's Aunt has yet another role of a leader | Olga Fuks, Vechernaya Moskva, 31.01.2002 

Pere Courage | Elena Kovalskaya, Afisha, 01.02.2002 

A lurid clown, a joyful tyrant | Nataliya Balashova, Moskovskaya Pravda, 02.02.2002 

The importance of not being serious | Gleb Sitkovskiy, Vash Dosug, 18.02.2002 

Don't force the farce! | Olga Egoshina, Versty, 23.02.2002 

A Reading circle | Roman Ganzha, Russiysky Jurnal, 16.04.2002 

Looking back, not recognising yourself | Olga Egoshina, Pervoe Sentyabrya, 28.01.2003 

A provocation at Et Cetera | Dmitry Chepurnyh, Zerkalo Nedeli, 17.05.2003 

On some mysteries... | Olga Netupskaya, Planeta Krasota, 01.01.2005 

Other:

Alexander Kalyagin on "Ubu Roi" | Alexander Kalyagin, excerpt of the book "Alexander Kalyagin", publ. 01.01.2002