Director: Jekaterina Granitova (Moscow)
Ballet master: Marina Suvorova
Cast: J. Âukova, N. Murina, J. Jablonskaja, L. Golovataja, S. Dorošenko, J. Jakovleva, N. Dõmtšenko, J. Išimtseva, O. Rogatšjov, I. Nartov, A. Kutšmezov et al.
There is nothing more fascinating than a Russian vaudeville, a really funny comedy with songs and dance. You may also call it a musical if you wish. Composer Grigori Auerbakh and poet Julius Kim have defined the genre as follows: "It is an old time musical comedy based on a play The Brigadier-General by Denis Fonvizin."
However we decide to define the genre, one thing is certain: there has to be lots of music, songs, and love. There is an orchestra on stage and the actors sing songs.
It is very cold in the snow and we need love to keep us warm ... All the characters are in love: they form a 'heptagon of love'. As weird as it is, Fonvizin's play, his jokes and characters still seem very familiar - people have not changed much nor gained more wisdom during the last two centuries. But those who have made this production do not only wish to see the audience laughing at the characters of this situation comedy, but would also like the audience to feel sad and touched, because this lyrical aspect is very important to them.