 | Kama Ginkas |
A short story by Anton Chekhov will come to life on stage through an international collaboration between the Yale Repertory Theatre and the renowned MTYZ Theatre/Moscow New Generation Theatre.
The world premiere of "Rothschild's Fiddle" will be presented now through Jan. 31 as part of the Yale Rep's 2003-2004 season at the University Theatre, 222 York St. The show is directed by Kama Ginkas, who also adapted the work from Chekhov's story.
"Theater is a unique vehicle for discovering and probing the most immediate and profound questions of our time," says James Bundy, artistic director of the Yale Rep and dean of the School of Drama. "International theatrical collaboration enhances the growth of human understanding: by helping us to recognize our similarities and differences; by engaging us in a dialogue about what the world is; and by allowing us to dream the world as the better place it may become."
"Rothschild's Fiddle" centers around the village curmudgeon, Yakov Ivanov, a 70-year-old coffin maker who is living in a town where people "die so rarely it's annoying." While he waits for Death to bring him some business, Ivanov passes the time by playing his fiddle in the local Jewish band. When Death does bring Ivanov a somewhat surprising customer, he strives to find meaning and value in the absurdity and ordinariness of life before it's too late.
The show is performed in Russian with English supertitles.
"Rothschild's Fiddle" is the first American world premiere for director Ginkas, who has collaborated with most major theaters in Moscow and St. Petersburg. It also completes a trilogy that the director sardonically refers to as "Life Is Beautiful," which includes adaptations of the Chekhov works "The Black Monk" and "The Lady with the Lapdog." (Ginkas directed a production of the latter work earlier this year at the American Repertory Theatre.)
In his work, Ginkas reveals "a strong sense of irony and paradox" and strives to bring "multiple levels of nuance to his productions by blurring the lines that usually separate narrative, internal monologues and spoken dialogue," writes theater journalist and scholar John Freedman, who translated the text of "Rothschild's Fiddle" for the Yale Rep's supertitles.
"In shows like 'Rothschild's Fiddle,' characters not only converse, they pronounce descriptive text about themselves and others," adds Freedman. "Ginkas frequently mixes things even further by having his actors say one thing while doing something else entirely, and by having them break long sentences down into short, independent phrases that send meaning ricocheting in various directions before the final meaning is revealed."
MTYZ Theatre/Moscow New Generation Theatre was founded in 1920 under the Soviet regime and was dedicated exclusively to young audiences. In most recent decades, it has become known far beyond the borders of Russia, with each of its productions attracting the attention of the international theater community and has performed at theatre festivals throughout the world.
The cast of "Rothschild's Fiddle" includes Valeriy Barinov, Alexey Dubrovskiy, Irina Nesterova and Igor Yasulovich.
The play will be presented at 8 p.m. on the following dates: Jan. 14-17, 19-23, 27, 29-31. There will be 2 p.m. only performances on Jan. 24, 25 and 28.
In conjunction with the play, the Yale Rep will host "Re:Play," a question-and-answer session with the cast and crew following the matinee performance on Saturday, Jan. 24; and a "Senior Matinee" on Wednesday, Jan. 28.
Because the play will be presented with supertitles, there will be no sign-interpreted performance. Further, since the play is a work-in-progress, there will not be sufficient time to prepare an audio description script. Instead, blind and low-vision patrons may contact Ruth Feldman at (203) 432-8425 or rm.feldman@yale.edu to obtain a CD or cassette of Chekhov's short story in advance of their attendance.
Tickets for "Rothschild's Fiddle" are $25-$40; senior, student and group rates are also available. Tickets for this and all other Yale Rep productions are available by phone at (203) 432-1234, in person at the box office, 1120 Chapel St. (corner of York), and online at www.yalerep.org.
T H I S
Yale Rep, Moscow troupe bring
Chekhov story to the stage
W E E K ' SS T O R I E S
Yale College Dean Brodhead named president of Duke
Four new associate v.p.'s announced
Grant to help preserve composers' voices as 'national treasures'
Club members are 'hooked' on tango
ENDOWED PROFESSORSHIPSHare is appointed Noah Porter Professor
Jones is designated Titus Street Professor
Morris is named Ford Foundation Professor
Scientist's paper on human genetics cited as the best of the year
Pianist wins Grammy Award nomination
Yale Rep, Moscow troupe bring Chekhov story to the stage
Peabody festival pays tribute to Martin Luther King
Researchers find T cells and natural killer cells cause of skin allergies
Researchers develop new way to produce artificial skin for grafts
Wisdom is the only antidote for hate, according to Yale psychologist
Works capture the beauty of Brazil's 'gems'
JE to host exhibit of works by Pop artist Robert Rauschenberg
Noted statesman will deliver Walker Lecture
Symposium will celebrate architect Kahn's legacy
Event to focus on use of neuroimaging in study of alcoholism
Stern among Yale alumni honored by Architectural Digest
Former Medical School Dean Dr. Fritz Redlich dies at age 93
Projects win support to preserve endangered languages
Concert will feature performances by celebrated pianist and violinist
Yale Books in Brief
Campus Notes
Bulletin Home|Visiting on Campus|Calendar of Events|In the News
Bulletin Board|Classified Ads|Search Archives|Deadlines
Bulletin Staff|Public Affairs|News Releases|
E-Mail Us|Yale Home