The MDT: for and against

"A theatre, a literature, an artistic expression that does not speak for its own time has no relevance". 

The Maly Drama Theater is known to be one of the most ambiguous theater in Saint-Petersburg. And actually, there are two "coalitions": the first highly praises Lev Dodin (the chief director of the theater) and his troup, the second is flabbergasted by the naturalism of some scenes and don't appreciate it at all (yes, you shouldn't be surprised at a nacked actor on the stage, actors eat real food, there is always water on the stage and they wash for real, though the repertoire is pretty classic: King Lear, Uncle Vanya, Warshaw Melody, Three Sisters).
But what is important: Dodin's theater has a real relevance with modern life, the topics are eternal: love, friendship, suffering, loss, fear, hope, struggle... The list is as endless as the universe.
For me there is something to think about after every single play in the MDT, even when this or that play was worse than the previous one.
"Life and Fate" by V.Grossman is what I strongly recommend. This play is really worth seeing. Be ready to spend three hours of complete immersion in the plot, built on the twist of fate and life, love and hope, cowardness and strenght, friendship and treachery.
I was absorbed and didn't notice the time I spent while watching.

See, what can you say about it...

http://mdt-dodin.ru/eng/index.html 

Decameron

"The theater is so endlessly fascinating because it's so accidental. It's so much like life".

It can sound pretty banal, but our life is theater and it's perfectly true.

If you've never been there or you go to the theaters rarely, just give it a chance.

Give theater the chance to appear in your life, you never know before you try!

There is another good thing to see in the Ychebnij Theater at 35 Mohovaya Str. - an unusual interpretation of Decameron (by Govanni Boccaccio). That’s impossible to adapt all the novels for stage while there is a bunch of them, but Krasovsky (director) chose several stories that are topical even in modern times.

Jokes and pranks, eccentricity, farce, choreography, lyrics – a wonderful mixture of dramatic art. Young, buoyant actors and actresses will share their energy and optimism with you.

Be sure to see!

http://teatr.tart.spb.ru/Repertoire/CurrentRep/5522.aspx?lang=ru

TheaterGoing

Well,hi everyone!
High time to start!
From here from now let's talk a bit about THEATER!
What's new on? What's out? Where to go and what to see?
From my point of view there is a bunch of opportunities, especially in our lobely SPb. So, let's see.

Love comedy Kasatka by A.Tolstoy - a charming touching story of love and relations, an amasing acting and talented directing by S. Spivak is what you'll have when spend 3 unforgettable hours at the Molodyozhny Theater on Fontanka.
http://mtfontanka.spb.ru/raider/eng/repertoire/Kasatka.htm

P.S. entrance tickets at a really reasonable price are available for anyone who'll come a bit earlier)