A fairy tale with magic tricks was shown at the Teresa Durova Theater

Nesmeyana laughs twice

Bright costumes and perky songs. Funny tricks and incredible stunts. Children’s performance based on the Russian folk tale “Princess Nesmeyana” staged by the Teresa Durova Theater will not leave indifferent either the kids or their parents. “Love is the best medicine!” – this is a simple, eternally relevant formula, which is embodied in a performance saturated with the color of scenography and the excitement of acting.

The foyer of the Teresa Durova Theater spreads children’s effervescent laughter. The kids surrounded Santa Claus and the Snow Maiden in a tight circle – young viewers do not get bored in anticipation of the premiere, the theater here begins, as they say, with a hanger. The audience enters the hall already in high spirits – there are two hours of exciting action ahead. In the program, in addition to the list of directors, actors, musicians, there is also a dictionary of the Old Russian language, from which you can find out what is always (always), switch (outwit) or sly (artist).

There are many variations of the tale about Princess Nesmeyana. Only in the Russian folk epic there are more than a dozen versions, but there are some readings in the Bashkir, Tatar, Estonian, Italian folklore … However, in all cases, the beginning and the outcome are the same. Princess Nesmeyana “never laughed, as if her heart did not rejoice at anything,” until she fell in love with a simpleton guy who could make her laugh. The authors of the version of the Durova Theater (screenwriter – Artem Abramov, author of poems – Andrey Usachev) create additional intrigue, easily perceived by the young audience. The princess loses her laughter not just because she lives in a “golden cage”, but at the behest of grandmother Mukhomorikhi, whose role is played by the charming Andrey Ermokhin. The newborn princess laughs so loudly that the sorceress decides to steal and hide the child’s laughter. Such a beginning for those who are older will evoke an association with the story of James Crews “Tim Thaler, or Sold Laughter.” Only unlike the plot of a German fairy tale, full of dramatic twists and turns, in Nesmeyan, despite the endless crying, the viewer will not have to be sad at all.

But the children laugh uncontrollably. From the jokes of the father-king (Pavel Povalikhin), who with equal success rules the state and paints the fence: a double-sided scepter – on the one hand a paint roller, on the other – a symbol of power. From the smile of a sweet but cunning queen mother (Margarita Belkina, Olga Naduvaeva), who is ready for anything for the sake of a child, but in addition to half her kingdom, whoever makes Nesmeyana laugh will probably not give up her dacha. From the songs of the amusing Kikimora (Yulia Sdvizhkova, Maria Pavlova) – Mukhomorikh’s servant. From a kind jester (Sergei Batov), ​​who falls in love with the princess. And, of course, from the whims of the main character, Nesmeyana (Anastasia Fadeeva, Nadezhda Misyakova), who, among other things, will surprise the audience with circus tricks. The royal child grows by leaps and bounds, and learns to walk at the same speed. It literally jumps out of the diaper – and straight into the sky, spinning and dancing in flight.

Miracles of acrobatics and circus performances are demonstrated not only by the princess, but also by overseas suitors who came to woo Nesmeyana from afar. One dances on four legs, the other with an outlandish doll (Andriana Sadkovskaya) in an amazing costume, and this doll shows miracles of dexterity. Spectators are also involved in acting, and more than once – and actors and children and adults are involved.

It is impossible not to note the work of the ensemble – jesters and crackers who sing and dance together, in a word, create the right mood and set the rhythm of a fabulous love story. And fantastically juicy costumes created by the Golden Mask laureate Olga Reznichenko. This is the case when the performance is made by details – fabulous scenery (artist Maria Rybasova), props, make-up. The New Year mood here is felt in every little thing that adds up to the overall picture of a bright holiday. This is confirmed by the reaction of the audience: throughout the performance, children actively comment, laugh and even dance on their chairs or in the aisles. Children’s theater should be like this – free, emotional, lively.

Published in the newspaper “Moskovsky Komsomolets” No. 28936 dated December 20, 2022

Newspaper headline:
Nesmeyana laughs twice