One of the best plays of the outstanding Russian playwright Alexander Nikolayevich Ostrovsky's "Crazy Money" is currently successfully staged in several theaters in the capital. What is this play about, what are the similarities and differences between the performances and how does the audience respond about each of them - all this and much more later in this article.
Ostrovsky's play
The comedy "Mad Money" was completed by Alexander Ostrovsky by the end of autumn 1869, the first publication took place at the beginning of 1870, on the pages of the journal "Domestic Notes". In the same year, immediately in two theaters, the first productions of the play took place. In the first editions of the play was called "Not All That Glitters Gold" and "Scythe on a Stone".
The plot of the play "Mad Money" tells the story of the fate and life of completely different heroes, who are united by one thing - a thirst for money, wealth and an idle life. Three types of imaginary rich people - the forty-year-old nobleman Telyatev, who lives on a large scale, but only in debt, the sixty-year-old noble gentleman Kuchumov, cruel and deceitful, whose wealth lies only in ties between his mother and wife, and, finally, the main character is the provincial Savva Vasilkov, whom, for fun, friends represent as a millionaire. No less greedy heroines are being led to this fishing tackle - Lidia Yurievna, a married-in girl, dreaming of a beautiful, comfortable life, and her mother Nadezhda Antonovna, who hides the dream of marrying her daughter in a marriage with an angelic face of good intentions. In general, all the main characters pretend that they are naive and kind, while they themselves only dream about money. Savva Vasilkov falls in love with Lydia, and she reciprocates only after learning about his millions, which actually are not. As a result, they turn out to be ideally suited to each other people, since for both the only value in life is money - marriage is nothing more than a deal for them. That is why Lydia calmly goes to the housekeeper to Vasilkov, hoping in the future to rise to the status - no matter how ridiculous it sounds - of the status of a wife. It is interesting that among the heroes Yegor Glumov reappears, already known to readers (and viewers) in the comedy "There Is Pretty Simplicity for Every Sage."
Ostrovsky’s "Crazy Money" can be called a comedy version of his own "Dowry" - all the same social problems will be raised in the next play by Alexander Nikolaevich, only in a dramatic way. The highlight of the play is given by the absence of positive characters in it - all the main characters, as conceived by the author, should not cause sympathy among the reader or viewer.
First productions
In April 1870, just a few months after the first publication of the play, Mad Money was staged on the stage of the Alexandrinsky Theater in St. Petersburg. Unfortunately, the play was met rather coldly, as they later wrote in the newspapers: "The Petersburg public does not want stories about simple life." The Moscow premiere took place in October 1870, on the stage of the Maly Theater. Here Ostrovsky’s new play was very well received, there was a big full house at the performances. It is not surprising that in this theater the play is successfully staged to this day - albeit by different directors.
Mad Money at the Maly Theater
The performance has been going on successfully at the Maly Theater since the first premiere of 1870 for many years, but was removed from the show at the turn of the century - the civil war and revolution required completely different productions. However, by the 1930s, classical performances began to return to the stage - especially Ostrovsky, which so coincided in its ideas with the ideas of the new, Soviet state. The first Soviet production of the play took place in 1933, on the stage of the Maly Theater. The content of the play "Crazy Money" in 1933 was as close to the original source as possible - the director Ivan Stepanovich Platonov could not stand the gag in relation to the classics, and therefore absolutely all remarks by Alexander Ostrovsky were observed. All the geniuses of the theater stage were involved in the production. The role of Nadezhda Cheboksarova was performed by the greatest Russian actress Alexandra Aleksandrovna Yablochkina. Her work was highly appreciated both by the audience and critics, and by partners in the scene, although the actress herself said that she did not initially understand Cheboksarova and played her incorrectly in the first productions:
Before, Cheboksarova seemed to me a positive type, I saw only her great love for her daughter, apologizing for all her actions, justifying her actions. Later, I realized my mistake and began to play Cheboksarov as a negative image. I used to believe that Cheboksarova does not lie internally when she says: “You say terrible words, Lydia: there is nothing worse than poverty. Yes, Lydia: vice! " - and therefore put into these words a genuine emotion of a noble soul. But this is not true: Cheboksarova is hiding behind a screen of dignity and honesty. She is all in the power of calculation, her “virtues” are enough only for the desire to “decency to observe.” In fact, this is a cynical, selfish being, her love for Lydia is a desire to sell her more expensive, by any means to get a rich man for her
The role of her daughter Lydia was performed by the equally brilliant actress Elena Nikolaevna Gogoleva, who was 33 years old at the time of the premiere. Thanks to excellent external data, she continued to play 24-year-old Lydia until she was 48. The eldest and youngest Cheboksarovs performed by Yablochkina and Gogoleva are in the photo below.
Other famous actors of the play "Crazy Money" in 1933 include Nikolai Kapitonovich Yakovlev as Vasilkov, Konstantin Alexandrovich Zubov as Telyatev and Peter Ivanovich Starkovsky as Kuchumov.
The following staging of the play on the stage of the Maly Theater was not only carried out in 1978, but also filmed in the form of a television play. The directors of this production were Nikolai Alexandrovich, Vladimir Beilis and Leonid Varpakhovsky. In this production, a lot of screen stars and scenes of the USSR were also involved, but already more known to the modern audience. So, the role of Lydia went to the star of her time Elina Bystritskaya - despite the fact that at the time of the premiere she was exactly 40 years old. The role of her future chosen one Vasilkov went to Yuri Kayurov, Nadezhda Antonovna was played by Irina Likso, and Telyateva - Nikita Podgorny.
Well, the first premiere of the play "Mad Money" at the Maly Theater, which has been successfully staged at the present time, took place 20 years later - in 1998. The duration of this performance is 2 hours 45 minutes and it consists of two actions with an intermission. The age limit is 12+. The cost of tickets for the performance is from 200 to 3000 rubles. The production takes place on another stage of the Maly Theater, which is located at 69 Bolshaya Ordynka.
The director of the fourth - for the Maly Theater - version of the play was Vitaly Nikolayevich Ivanov, Honored Artist of the Russian Federation, and the main director was Vitaly Anatolyevich Konyaev, People's Artist of the Russian Federation. Cast:
- Vasilkov - Victor Nizovoy / Dmitry Koznov.
- Lydia - Polina Dolinskaya / Daria Novoseltseva.
- Cheboksarova - Aleftina Evdokimova / Lyudmila Polyakova.
- Telyatev - Valery Babyatinsky.
- Kuchumov - Vladimir Dubrovsky.
- Glumov - Mikhail Fomenko.
The Maly Theater even has a trailer for this performance with one of the casts. You can watch it in the video below.
At the Mayakovsky Theater
On the stage of the Moscow Mayakovsky Theater, the play "Mad Money" is still very young. Its premiere took place in April 2017. The role of Nadezhda Antonova in this production was performed by the famous Soviet and Russian actress Svetlana Nemolyaeva. She was born on April 18, 1937, and the authors timed the premiere of the play to her 80th birthday. But this is not the only reason for the Nemolyaeva performance "Mad Money" is special - the fact is that in this production, in the role of Lydia, her native granddaughter Polina Lazareva appears on the stage with the great actress. The highlight in this information is added by the fact that the director of the production Anatoly Shuliev did not know about the relationship of the actresses when he distributed the roles. He simply decided that Svetlana Nemolyaeva and Polina Lazareva are similar in appearance, like relatives - and got to the very point.
Other actors in the play "Mad Money" by Anatoly Shuliev are:
- Vasilkov - Alexey Dyakin.
- Veal - Vitaly Lensky.
- Kuchumov - Alexander Andrienko.
- Glumov - Konstantin Konstantinov.
The director himself designated the genre of production as "a comedy of obsession" - after all, all the characters can really be called obsessed, which makes them find themselves in situations that are funny for the viewer. The performance lasts 3 hours 20 minutes, with one intermission and category 12+. A ticket will cost the viewer in the amount of 500 to 2700 rubles. Those who wish are invited to the main stage on Bolshaya Nikitskaya street 19/13. Before deciding whether to go to this performance or not, you can watch the trailer presented below.
In the theater of satire
In 1981, the famous actor Andrei Mironov staged this performance on the stage of the Satire Theater, and even played the main role of Savva Vasilkov in it. The play went on for a long time at the Satire Theater and after the death of the actor, but, for unknown reasons, was shot in the early 2000s. However, in 2013, the director, actor and good friend of Mironov, Andrei Zenin, restored the performance, completely repeating all the ideas of Andrei Alexandrovich and coinciding with the premiere of his birthday. The critics who knew and loved the old production unsubscribed in reviews of the play "Mad Money" staged at the Satire Theater. They agreed that Zenin managed to keep the tragicomedy note embedded in the play of Ostrovsky by Mironov himself, and that all lovers of the "old" theater of Satire should pay attention to this production.
Following the example of Andrei Mironov, Andrei Zenin himself played the role of Savva Vasilkov. Other actors and roles of this production:
- Lydia - Anastasia Mikishova.
- Cheboksarova Sr. - Valentina Sharykina.
- Telyatev - Alexander Chevychelov.
- Kuchumov - Sergey Churbakov.
- Glumov - Ivan Mikhailovsky.
The duration of the play "Crazy Money" in the Satire Theater is 2 hours 30 minutes, there is an intermission. Spectators are invited to the stage "The Attic of Satire", address of the theater Triumfalnaya Square, 2. Tickets will cost from 450 to 1500 rubles.
At the Taganka Theater
Unusual in the performance of the Taganka Theater is that the whole plot was transferred from the end of the 19th century to the beginning of the 20th. The director of Mad Money in the Art Nouveau style was the successful actress and aspiring director Maria Fedosova. The duration of this performance is 3 hours 20 minutes, but the marking is higher than the previous ones - 16+.
Roles are performed by:
- Savva Vasilkov - Vladimir Zaviktorin.
- Lydia - Irina Usok.
- Cheboksarova - Anna Mokhova / Polina Fokina.
- Kuchumov - Mikhail Basov.
- Telyatev - Danila Perov / Dmitry Belotserkovsky.
- Glumov - Roman Serkov.
Tickets for this performance cost from 400 to 1000 rubles. The address of the theater is 76/21 Zemlyanoy Val Street.
At the Pushkin Theater
A rather interesting version of the play was shown at the Pushkin Moscow Theater from May 2010 to June 2013. She is interesting both from the point of view of directorial ideas, and from the point of view of an unusual cast - Vera Alentova and Ivan Urgant appeared on the list of actors. Enoughly eccentric, symbolic, and even with a hint of absurdity, director Roman Kozak approached the creation of the play. He managed to make Ostrovsky's comedy a very topical, modern and incredibly witty show. The performance had a three-hour duration, but judging by the reviews, it looked in one breath.
Actors and roles of the play "Mad Money" at the Pushkin Theater:
- Vasilkov - Ivan Urgant.
- Lydia - Alexandra Ursulyak.
- Cheboksarova - Vera Alentova.
- Telyatev - Victor Verzhbitsky.
- Kuchumov - Vladimir Nikolenko.
- Glumov - Boris Dyachenko.
This performance was closed more than five years ago, and it is still unknown whether it will return to the stage, and if so, will it be in the same composition and form? But fortunately, the full version of the play is not difficult to find and watch online. And below you can see a small trailer that was dedicated to the premiere.
At the St. Petersburg Comedy Theater
The premiere of the youngest version of the play took place in February 2018 - this version of "Mad Money" was staged on the stage of the Akimov Comedy Theater in St. Petersburg. This option turned out to be not only very close to the original source, even somewhat refined, but also incredibly beautiful - a fresh look at the costumes and appearance of the characters, continuously snowing, a combination of blue and black in minimalistic scenery - all this attracts even those who managed to see all the existing ones productions of "Mad Money" and is not ready to be surprised. The director of the play was Tatyana Kazakova, who is the artistic director of this whole theater.
Perhaps the female view of the play affected, but in this version it would not work at all to sympathize with Savva and Lydia: inside Vasilkov, the viewer will feel a tragic note of self-denial, and in Lydia - glimpses of a tender, albeit deeply undercurrent soul. Between the characters, in addition to a practical union, you can feel the incipient love. Thus, Kazakova decided to make a comedy in some way melodrama. Starring actors appeared who performed on a par with honored and even folk artists:
- Vasilkov - Alexander Matveev.
- Lydia - Daria Lyatetskaya.
- The eldest Cheboksarova - Irina Mazurkevich / Natalia Shostak.
- Telyatev - Nikolay Smirnov.
- Kuchumov - Sergey Russkin.
- Glumov - Dmitry Lebedev.
The performance lasts exactly three hours, the cost of tickets is from 500 to 2000 rubles. Theater Address: St. Petersburg, Nevsky Prospect 56.
Film adaptation
In 1981, the first and only artistic adaptation of the play "Mad Money" was released on the screens - if you do not take into account the 1978 version, as it is, nevertheless, a performance, albeit shown on television. The film was directed by Evgeny Matveev, an actor from the Maly Theater, who did not happen to take part in the theatrical production of the play, although he always dreamed about it. The film somewhat distorts the main message of the original source, making Vasilkov and Lydia not bad in nature, but as if victims of the evil influence of others. Thus, the agreement of the younger Cheboksarova to become a housekeeper in the house of the mother of Savva Genadich (as in the film) does not look here as an abnormality for a healthy family, but as a way of correction, which neither Vasilkov nor Lydia can do without. The film is interesting for the participation of such actors as Elena Solovey and Yuri Yakovlev. According to numerous reviews on the network, many moviegoers and fans of Ostrovsky’s creativity agree that for the sake of the brilliant play of these outstanding artists alone, the film is worth watching. Roles performed by:
- Vasilkov - Alexander Mikhailov.
- Lydia - Lyudmila Nilskaya.
- Cheboksarova - Elena Solovey.
- Telyatev - Yuri Yakovlev.
- Kuchumov - Pavel Kadochnikov.
- Glumov - Vadim Spiridonov.
Similarities and differences in performances
Despite the fact that all the performances of Mad Money have a common plot, the difference between them is enormous. Each director nonetheless adds his personal feelings and visions of the heroes to the source of Ostrovsky, just as each actor presents his character differently. For example, in the modern production of the Maly Theater, a certain proportion of audience sympathy will still be on the account of Lydia and Vasilkov. The director did not make them completely hopeless, removing from the younger Cheboksarova, in some way, the heroine of Dostoevsky - cold, prudent, but still not completely lost. And Vasilkov does not seem at all such a provincial fool, as if there were sincere feelings in him. In this, the production is very similar to the version of the Akimov Petersburg Theater - there, too, the director decided not to make such heartless monsters out of the main characters, but at the same time she observed all the main details of the original text, seasoning them with a bit of sincere and beautiful romance.
The situation with the play "Crazy Money" in the Mayakovsky Theater is completely different - here the directors created not just comedy, but eccentric, and the spectators can never even dream about the positive qualities or justification of the heroes' actions. Maybe this production is not as accurate as in the Maly Theater, but Ostrovsky’s main message is preserved, which he was not going to justify his heroes, and even more so their heartless thirst for profit. The director of the Pushkin Theater version approached the play from about the same position - he brought to the grotesque the humorous component of the play, exaggerating the greed and vices of all heroes.
In the Taganka Theater, as mentioned above, the most dramatic difference is the change in time in which the characters exist. The rest of the director adhered to the original source, according to some viewers - more than everyone else.
The play, which is being held at the Satire Theater, was reproduced according to an earlier production of Andrei Mironov - which is why this comedy is filled with the light sadness inherent in every theatrical work of this actor and director. Here, too, there is no excuse for the greed of the heroes, however, watching their life, one does not want to punish them with laughter, but quietly and heartily regret - for the deficiency of views and life principles.
Viewers reviews
Reviews of the "Crazy Money" performances staged in different theaters are also, respectively, different. The spectators call the production of the Maly Theater almost one voice the most accurate, despite the fact that here the play has turned from comedy into a tragicomedy, if not a drama. But still, without changing the traditions of earlier productions, the directors Ivanov and Konyaev adhered to the exact sequence, and also kept all the replicas and actions of the heroes practically unchanged. Viewers write that they were incredibly excited about watching this performance on the stage of Maly.
But the reviews about the play "Crazy Money" on the stage of the Mayakovsky Theater were divided. Most viewers really liked the freshness of the presentation of the classic play, the brilliant presentation and humor. Those who left a negative review agreed that the performance turned out to be too long and prolonged.
About the play staged at the Satire Theater, the most interesting are the reviews from those who managed to watch the original version of Mironov (and with Mironov). It is pleasant to realize that these viewers also liked the new version of Mad Money - they saw here the creative presence of Andrei Alexandrovich himself.
The audience’s reviews of the “Crazy Money” play on the Taganka Theater are very controversial - someone was delighted with the director’s idea to change the time period and called the production the best reading of the source. Other viewers, on the contrary, were outraged by such big changes and they were categorically unhappy with the performance.
The youngest St. Petersburg production of the play “Crazy Money” was not deprived of reviews either - the audience, basically, spoke very warmly about this version of the classic play. Well, those who were unhappy wrote that they did not like the excessive romanticization of the characters and the loss of depth of meaning behind the visual effects.