Who’s afraid of Maienburg? Theater news review
“Fire Face”
I personally know two people who admitted that they are afraid to attend the Latvian National Theater play “Ugunsseja” because it is based on a too depressing play. The first reviews also show very mixed reactions from the audience. What’s the matter?
The middle-generation German dramatist Marius von Meinburg (1972) wrote the play “Fireface” already in 1997, the total number of his plays reaches over 20. Latvian audiences are familiar with his other plays, most of which were once staged by director Viesturs Meikšans, probably the best-known of his three productions is “The Apprentice” in the New Riga Theater. Five years ago, Mayinburg’s play “Neglitenis” directed by Gundars Silakaktiņš flashed in the repertoire of Dailes Theater.
“Ugunsseja” is the version of the new director Henry Arajs, which is given the genre label “decadent drama”. When describing this production, two aspects must be distinguished. The first is substantive. Meinburg’s play is unpleasant, there are no positive characters in it, and the generational conflict in it develops into morbid manifestations – incest and pyromania.
You can watch all of this only with enough emotional distance, and not everyone wants to see something like that, but that’s why it’s worth finding out in advance what awaits the viewer.
Yesterday, one of the audience left the hall 25 minutes after the show started.
But here we come to the second aspect. This is the third play staged by Henrija Araj after his diploma thesis, and it undeniably shows the professional development of the director.
All the acting works are very good, but this is undeniably the best role of the last years for Evia Kruse, which requires both physical and mental nakedness from the actress.
Like heavily peppered dishes, this show is not for everyone, but it could definitely have its audience.
Performances “Apprentice” and “Martyr”
Photo: Publicity images
“The Disciple”https://www.lsm.lv/”The Martyr”
It is interesting that several directors are turning to Marius von Mayenburg’s dramaturgy this spring. On May 3, 4 and 5, the performance of the 3rd-year students of the Latvian Academy of Culture, directed by Elmārs Senkov, will have its premiere, and
this production about a high school student’s conversion to religion is interesting in that it not only has two casts, but also a different title for each cast.
As the annotation says, in the play “Martyr” the main character fights for the right to be heard. It doesn’t matter by what means, the most important thing is the result. Matīss Kučinskis in the role of Benjamin. On the other hand, in the play “The Apprentice”, the main character is aware of his power, but does not accept his feelings. The Holy Scriptures come to his aid, using which he begins to undermine the existing system. Aleksandrs Bricis in the role of Benjamin.
Several more LKA students participate in the show, but director and set designer Reinis Suhanovs has also applied for one of the roles, actress Inese Pudža is also on the list of roles. Elmārs Senkovs often achieves a fascinating result with his students, as we remember the show “Flaming Darkness” with Karli Reijer and Igor Šelegovski in the main roles, as well as the diploma thesis “Hunting” of the acting course of the former Puppet Theater.
The show “Frankenstein Complex”
Photo: Aivars Ivbulis
“Frankenstein Complex”
And one more news – “Dirty Deal Teatro” returns for one evening on May 2, the co-production “Frankenstein Complex” by Latvian and Lithuanian actors, whose dramaturgy is written by Kārlis Krūmiņš and artificial intelligence, who won the “Game Night” award for this performance. The show is in English.
