The play "Hollywood Diva" was based on an operetta unfamiliar to Russian viewers, which came from the pen of the Austrian composer Ralph Benacki. It was adapted by the director Cornelius Balthus, which resulted in an interesting and very bright musical.
From Axel to Diva
Initially, the operetta under the intricate title Axel at the Gates of Heaven was created in the form of a parody of Hollywood films. It has wonderful music, sophisticated dance numbers, sparkling humor ... The bright and juicy roles of the main characters are so interesting that each of the movie and theater stars of that time (let's not dissemble, and the last decades) would have gladly embodied them on stage.
All the events that surround the Hollywood star Gloria Mills and socialite Axel, who really hopes to use the actress for his own purposes, in order to accelerate his career growth.
From the 20th century to the 21st
For the first time, Benacki's operetta could be seen on the Vienna stage back in 1936. Then the success was overwhelming. At that time, it was placed over two hundred times. The Swedish actress Tsara Leander, who played the main role in the musical, became one of the most famous and beloved movie stars.
Director Cornelius Baltus in the process of working changed the name of his production four times, until he chose the last and best. So the musical comedy "Hollywood Diva" appeared. In it you can feel the energy inherent exclusively in this genre. The whole splendor of the atmosphere of the thirties was recreated on the stage, and new very interesting episodes were added to the existing music.
Story line
The Hollywood Diva, a musical whose premiere can be considered not only Russian but also world, tells the story of film star Gliria Mills and the young journalist Axel, who lives on hope for promotion through the publication of an interview with impregnable Gloria in the newspaper. In this production there are many love triangles, investigations, dressing up, Russian emigrants. In general, all that is so inherent in the Vienna operetta.
The scene is the same Hollywood. Perhaps for a long-existing genre this is a little exotic, but ... Just known to millions of the world capital of the film industry, it has become the main character of the play. But if the original production was, so to speak, a parody of the "dream factory", then the "Hollywood diva" In a sense, it became a grateful monument to cinema and a fabulously beautiful and elegant film era of the thirties of the twentieth century.
Both visually and by ear - a sheer pleasure
Observing the performance visually, you can understand that a careful examination of the deluxe room in the hotel, the pavilion of the film studio, and the interiors of the Axel apartment bring complete pleasure. A special audience thanks the Hungarian set designer Kentauer for his huge typewriter, on the keys of which Axel danced cheerfully in the finale of the first act.
And all this can be seen in the musical "Hollywood Diva." Reviews about him express the diametrically opposite opinion of theater-goers: from admiration to a misunderstanding of why certain actors were invited.
An indisputable find of the performance can also be considered the choreography staged by Dennis Callahan from the USA. Viewers find it very easy to perceive a taping scene in prison, even though the action is a bit like Prison Tango featured in Chicago. The work of the choir and orchestra under the direction of Andrey Alekseev is also magnificent.
Perhaps not everyone can understand what else (besides such a gracious aesthetics) this performance could attract directors. Connoisseurs of beauty express the opinion that Benacki's work on Axel, despite the fact that it is not without zest, is unlikely to have the right to claim the status of a masterpiece that has been unjustly forgotten.
Drozdova VS Rulla: who is better?
Let us dwell on the play itself. The images of the two main characters come to the fore: their relationships are drawn quite carefully. Directors of the musical "Hollywood Diva" decided to emphasize the inequality of partners in the social and age aspect (this has been familiar to the audience for a long time, since the advent of the “Princess of the Circus” and “Queen Chardash”); in addition, even Stockholm syndrome was affected.
The actress of the Moscow theater "Sovremennik" Olga Drozdova was invited to the musical for the role of Gloria. She was able to reveal her dramatic potential, easily finding a rather non-trivial and even somewhere ironic look at the movie star she embodied. And she succeeds quite well, if you do not pay attention to a significant nuance: according to the script, Gloria sings. But Drozdova never knew how to sing. The maximum that can be said about her vocal abilities is that the actress recites pretty well to the phrase music. But it looks strange in a musical performance.
What is more pleasant to listen to: speech or singing?
Here you can get a little distracted from the modern view of the play "Hollywood diva" and delve into the history.
Tsara Leander (mentioned above a little) was also not the owner of an academic vocal school. But nevertheless ... The amazingly beautiful timbre of her voice - velvety, thick (the sound was almost baritone) - gave her the opportunity to once receive the status of not only a cult actress, but also a singer ... And here we must pay attention to that in another composition Gloria is performed by Lika Rulla. She is well known to theatergoers who adore the musical genre with adoration. There is no doubt about her vocals (they have long been talking about her beautiful voice, painted with a certain juiciness). Therefore, for those who want to listen to not just words, but singing, it is better to come to a performance where she will shine on the stage.
Tino Taziano and others ...
If you turn your eyes to the actor, who embodied the role of a fraudster Tino Tatsiano on the stage - and this is the famous Russian actor Dmitry Pevtsov (and part-time husband of Olga Drozdova), then he can fully demonstrate good vocals. And he really sings well, especially in comparison with Dmitry’s timid attempts to make musical sounds in The Witches of Eastwick. Unfortunately, despite the presence of a talented actor, his character remained operetny in the most negative sense of the word.
Unfortunately, most of the supporting characters are shown in the same way in the musical “Hollywood Diva”. The reviews for this production are probably very strict and somewhat biased. But do not be surprised at this, because the audience, who do not often cross the threshold of theaters, and the avid (in the good sense of the word) theater-goers who do not miss a single premiere, want to see something enchanting.
Supporting Heroes
Let us dwell on three characters who should not be deprived of their attention. A very vivid and interesting episode is the court scene. In the role of judge Apfelbaum - Andrei Matveev, in the role of an eccentric Russian emigrant - Valentina Kosobutskaya. The actors managed to create an amazing acting duet, which, from the premiere screening, was very popular with the public, evoking its full approval.
But the most convincing, according to many viewers of the musical "Hollywood Diva" (the reviews of the performance in general and the actors involved in it speak for themselves), is an interesting and slightly ridiculous aria of an emigrant - maid Diana. It sings about the constant longing for the native place, but especially for the delicious soup and sparkling kvass. This character was remarkably embodied by Ekaterina Popova.
What to say in conclusion?
Perhaps this will seem strange to someone, but, in addition to amazing choreography and neat scenography, which quite modernly stylizes the interiors of the early twentieth century, the main decoration of the play "Hollywood diva" are male actors. Looks great movie producer Mack Scott performed by Alexander Byron: stylish, smart, elegant, subtly sensitive, cynical, but in moderation. The actor’s microphone singing is simply impeccable: the natural timbre is so beautiful - the baritone, only benefiting from the tactful sound. The description is completed by his male charisma and artistic organics.
Charming and very agile young reporter Axel (played by Oleg Krasovitsky). A guy with a special talent is deceiving the audience, unobtrusively appearing on the stage under the guise of an old statistician. Even the main character, Gloria, does not notice any discrepancy. The actor’s voice is not strong, but quite expressive. He is very plastic and elegant.
As for the character of Dmitry Pevtsov - Tino Tatsiano, a swindler with a fake title of a prince, then initially he was not on stage, they only mentioned him. But in the musical he found life, although a little schematically.
In conclusion, we can say that the musical, which has been talked about and written about so much, really sounds like an experiment, thanks to which all genre boundaries can be erased. It looks like a cute musical comedy that is simple and naive and understandable to both an esthete and an ordinary housewife.
But be that as it may, this production is worthy of the attention of the honorable public. And at least once, but to watch the performance is not only possible, but also necessary - you will not have to regret it.