Review 2

“The success”

It is a Soviet film directed by Konstantin Khudyakov in 1984.

The Plot: A young director Leonid Filatov, whos wife leaves him, go out of the capital to begin his career in the peripheral theater, where he desides to make a play by Anton Chekhov called "The Seagull." Leonid has a difficult character, that's why he always has difficulties with the troupe of the theater The eminent actress refuses to play a role in the play, the actors are offended and Filatov replaces them. Eventually the director achieves a success. However this film is with an “open” end. Each viewer can decide what Leonid Filatov will going to do: whether he decides to stay in this theater, the actors of which got used to him, or to abandon them because of more paying proposal. 

So, the film “The Success” is a good example of typical theatre. We see rehearsals of the play "The Seagull", we are introduced to a group of one of the provincial theaters. Leonid Filatov has gradually overcome the natural distrust of the troupe. He has to prove violently his vision of Chekhov's plays, his point of view, to insist, to entreat, even to beseech.

"The Success" is a film of different actors. There is no unambiguous characters, straightforward plotlines. Thus Alice Freyndlihz is not only arrogant and self-confident person, but also an actress with a sharp wit, caustic irony and true talent, she does not want to be just a puppet. Leonid Filatov is not an ordinary man. On the contrary, he is sociable, touchy and sometimes rude. He is sure that thete is no place in art for compromises.

This film is not only about the narrow professional problems of theatrical art, but also about the art as a whole, about those price we all pay for our own success in life.

Well, this is one of my favorite Soviet movies. The great acting of Leonid Filatov is so good, strong and truthful! Rehearsal process is shown in such details and nuances, that not for a minute doubt that you are present at the birth of the real art. This is the movie, which makes think over itself and over the time. 

Rendering 8

Director WasAttacked Over His Work, Bolshoi Says

   The author of the article is Ellen Barry. It was published on January 20, 2013, on New York Times. The article provides the information about an attack with sulfuric acid on Sergei Filin, the artistic director of the Bolshoi Ballet.

   In the beginning of the article the author writes that Filin was targeted because of his work in Bolshoi Ballet. He had been receiving threats for weeks and eventually an unknown person flung the caustic liquid in his face. According to the article Sergei consideres that someone’s not pleased that he is leading the Bolshoi Theater successfully.

   Moreover the author reports that Sergei Filin underwent an operation on his eyes and a second operation would be on Tuesday or Wednesday. With the word of a doctor Filin's recovery may last for months.

   Further the author gives some theories who was a criminal. According to the text Mr. Filin had threatened commercial interests, or someone hoped to take his job or just the artistic rivalries.

   In conclusion the auther says that Sergei Filin intends to stay on as the ballet company’s artistic director. He adds that theater is our country in miniature and people have changed for the worse. There is something rotten in Bolshoi Theater.

   So, I think throwing acid in someone’s face is terrible, a monstrous crime, which does not just disfigure a person’s life, but strips him of livelihood, of his eyesight itself. People who are doing like this are monsters.

Rendering 7

A LIFE IN THE THEATRE: 

Broadway Usher Sylvia Bailey Makes a Career On the Aisle

The author of the article is Mervyn Rothstein. It was published on 25 Feb 2013, on the website www.playbill.com. The article provides the information about Sylvia Bailey, a former dancer and singer who returned to the theatre late in life for a long run.

In the beginning of the article the author narrates us about Bailey, sitting front row center at the Majestic Theatre, observing movements of familiar crystal chandelier. According to the text now Bailey is 88 years old and she has been an usher at the Majestic Theatre since the mid 1980s. She says that she likes to be where there's people, with the public.

Further the author tells about some steps of Bailey's career. When she was two she took dance lessons. Her mother also took her for singing lessons and then Bailey sang on child's programs. Then she improved her business, singing, dancing, working in nightclubs. Unfortunately she married and dropped her career.

The author also adds that her ushering job was the position at the Majestic, as a waitressing. Then she appeared in organization, which owned by some Broadway theatres. According to the text “The Phantom of the Opera” is her favourite Musical.

In conclusion the auther tells that Bailey is going to keep on ushering. She loves theater and consideres she has got a nice life.

Well, I think it is great when people manage to find something dear to their heart. I'm sure that Sylvia Bailey really can't imagine her life without theatre, perfomances and visitors and she is very happy.

William Somerset Maugham ''The Moon and Sixpence''

Summary, 53-58

    Dr. Coutras, whom Tiare introduced to Crabbe, told about the last years of Strickland, who died of leprosy. Ata decided to leave with her husband in isolation from the people. Only Dr. Coutras visited them. Three years later, the doctor visited them again and learned that Strickland died. Inside the house, he saw the walls were painted by Strickland in some alluring, mysterious painting. All it made a great impression on him and he recognized him a genius.

    Strickland put his whole soul into his last creation and he was able to expel the demon who possessed him for many years. However Strickland made Ata to promise that she would burn the house after his death, so Ata did it.

    The narrator returned to London, where he met again Mrs.Strickland. Her sister handed down a pretty sizable fortune. Mrs.Strickland introduced Crabbe to american critic, who wrote about Strickland. She had a lot of reproductions of his paintings and made ​​it clear that she and her husband have always had the best relationship. Then Mrs. Strickland called her grown-up children. Crabbe told them everything he knew about Strickland's life in Tahiti and his horrible death. For some reason, the suddenly thought of Strickland's son by Ata, as if he saw him, with his mind's eye, on the schooner on which he worked among the waves of the Pacific Ocean.

Rendering 6

She Plays a Chimp Who’s Playing a Man

      The author of the article is Alexis Soloski. It was published on March 28, 2013, on page AR9 of the New York edition. The article provides the information about the Kathryn Hunter, an award-winning English actress and theatre director, and her role of a captured chimpanzee Red Peter in “Kafka’s Monkey”.

     In the beginning of the article the author tells us about ordinary preparations ot Kathryn's role and how then she becomes a sensation on the music hall stage. It is her most exotic role and according to her it is by no means the most difficult. According to the text Mrs.Hunter liked to experiment with different kinds of roles. For example, a businessman in “The Bee”, King Lear, Paulina in “The Winter’s Tale” and many others. The author also pointed Kathryn's hardest role she ever took on, it was the role of Cleopatra in “Antony and Cleopatra”.

     Further the author reports what Kathryn thinks about her role of chimp. According to the article she considered chimps resemble herself, articulated wrists or their limited lateral vision, or even a simian cry.

     Moreover the author adds that Kathryn cearfully prepared to this role. For example, she studied chimpanzee skeletal structure, watched videos and visited a Zoo.

Alexis points out that this is quite difficult to play Red Peter and the main task is to show, knowing a monkey’s psychology, how chimpanzee learned to dress and move and speak as a man.

     In conclusion the auther gives the reader an opinion fo Mr.Meierjohann, who is sure that Kathryn Hunter is one of the best actors in the world.

     As for me I admire Kathryn, she can play any role, she is very responsible for her work. So, I'm sure that no one can play the role of Red Peter better than she.

William Somerset Maugham "The Moon and Sixpence"

Summary, 43-52 chapters

As the fates decree Crabbe got to Tahiti, where Strickland spent the last years of his life and became finally famous. In Tahiti Crabbe met captain Nichols, thanks to whom Strickland came to Tahiti. Nichols told how they lived with Strickland in the port of Marseille not a shot in the locker, how Strickland ran into Tough Bill, who vowed to kill him and how Strickland escaped from a revenge, leaving by steamer to Australia.

The inhabitants of Tahiti, who knew Strickland, considered him a usual tramp. Later they regreted that failed to understand all value of his paintings, which then costed a fortune.

The narrator lived in the hotel, the owner of which was an old Tahitian Tiare. She knew Strickland well and told Crabbe how she found a wife for Strickland, 17-year-old Ata. They settled deep in the mountains in the valley. Ata had a lot there. The next 3 years were the happiest in Strickland's life. He created his paintings, and his wife raised their children and kept the house.

William Somerset Maugham "The Moon and Sixpence"

Summary, 37-42 chapters

A week later after Blanche's death Stroeve reported that he decided to return home to the Netherlands and that he had seen Strickland after the death of the wife. Dirk said that he found a Strickland's picture in studio, on which was depicted Blanche in the nude. In a burst of jealousy he wanted to destroy it, but he couldn't.

A month later Crabbe met Strickland. The last didn't feel remorse for the death of Blanche and for destroyed life of Stroeve. Strickland had never wanted to separate Blanche and Stroeve, just to use Blanche as an artist's model. Women didn't interest him.

Suddenly Strickland decided to show his paintings to Crabbe. It made a strong impression on the narrator. Paintings seemed to him ugly, but at the same time there was something teasing and exciting. A week later Strickland went to Marseilles and Crabbe never saw him again.