02.12.2019
In the Stray Dog Puppet Theater not so long ago, a very unusual performance `` Butterfly '' took place, timed to coincide with the centenary of Tonino Guerra & ndash; great screenwriter and playwright. The production, based on the memories of the maestro, tells the story of the strength of the human spirit in a harsh and cruel wartime. Young Guerra was a prisoner of a concentration camp, but he found the strength and courage to preserve human dignity. The pacifist spirit permeates both Tonino's text and the performance, invented and staged by Alfia Abdulina. Everything in it, from precisely selected music to detailed mise-en-scenes, speaks of the fragility and value of a peaceful life. Viewers are not offered specific statements in the spirit of anti-war posters & ndash; the main idea is expressed by gestures, plasticity, shadows.
At the beginning of the story, nothing portends trouble: the townspeople are watching the circus performance with interest, the warm air of the Italian province is filled with joy and happiness. But suddenly the clouds are gathering (both literally and figuratively!) & Ndash; war enters the life of ordinary people with a heavy boot tread. The darkness metaphysical and at the same time quite real fills the stage space. Lighting becomes scarce & ndash; you, sitting in the hall, feel the proximity of an enemy invasion. There will be no bomb explosions or mass executions, but the fate of each hero now hangs in the balance & ndash; all of them are already prisoners of a concentration camp, where certain death awaits them. In the inhuman conditions of imprisonment, people try to forget themselves, at least mentally to gain freedom. Excellent exit & ndash; a game of imagination. The prisoners imagine a sumptuous homemade dinner, although in reality they are just camp dust. The extreme point of despair & ndash; a keen desire to eat a butterfly in a vain attempt to satisfy hunger. But for the main character (as you might guess, this is the prototype of Tonino himself) such an act is impossible. A butterfly was born for the beauty and delight of human eyes, it should flutter carelessly, and not be eaten. A person must remain a person, not sink to the moral bottom. It would seem a trifle, just a butterfly. Nevertheless, it acts here as a kind of moral marker. There is a clear line that must never be crossed under any circumstances. However, the war is not eternal: one way or another, but one day the light still conquers the darkness. Slowly but surely, life turns into a peaceful course. Houses are being rebuilt, people are no longer afraid to go out, a funny circus performance is again taking place on the central square. And butterflies fly freely: now no one wants to eat them. Small gentle light creatures in the skillful hands of the actors seem to be really alive: they flutter easily, their weightless wings flutter touchingly.
In the performance by Alfia Abdulina, several factors have successfully come together: brilliant literary material, surprisingly organic acting (the production involves Konstantin Kojeve, Christina Bekanova, Sergei Glazetskiy, Ella Tsvetkova), artistic techniques, skillfully made dolls. In the right moments, a truly depressing mood is created, which is felt almost tangibly. No pompous difficulties: the play of light and shadows, musical accompaniment, heavy silence are enough to feel pain, fear, and hunger with all our gut. There is no place for falsehood or inappropriate pathos. The most important thoughts are formulated as simply as possible: war & ndash; this is a tragedy, a disaster, no need for war.
The play `` Butterfly '', undoubtedly, should be seen by both adults and children. View and then discuss. Perhaps cry and draw important conclusions for yourself. And, perhaps, the most important argument in favor of this production is & ndash; the presence at the performance of the widow of the great Tonino Laura Guerra and her warmest complementary words addressed to all the creators of Butterfly.
Text: Marina Konstantinova
Photos from the archive of the theater