Actor Anatoly Bely disrupted Lenkom’s tour in Israel with his persecution

At the end of October, “Lenkom” was supposed to show the legendary performance of Mark Zakharov’s “Memorial Prayer” in Israel at the Habima National Theater. However, just a day later, the theater management decided to cancel the tour. The reason is the persecution of the popular Russian theater, initiated not by some political fighter, but (attention!) by a former actor of the Moscow Art Theater. Chekhov, recognized in the Russian Federation as a foreign agent Anatoly Bely.

On his Facebook page, Bely wrote last Sunday: “The Lenkom Theater – read, Z-com, they want to bring on tour and play the play “Memorial Prayer” (read, speculation on a Jewish theme) on the stage of the Habima Theater. Blasphemy. Dear Israelis with experience, can you explain to me what it is?”

And then he reports that he is waiting for constructive answers and appropriate actions. The throw-in fell on fertile ground, and the producer of the tour began to receive threats from Ukrainians who had settled in Israel. The management of the Habima venue also got it, accused of “aiding” the representatives of the Russian theater.

It seems that Bely, who left for Israel a year ago, is now trying on the role of a political fighter, principled and pure in thought. But, alas, his thoughts were not very good even in peacetime.

Suffice it to recall his story with Marina Golub, who, in fact, begged Tabakov to take an unknown artist with a beautiful voice to the main academic drama of the country, but with whom Bely parted ugly as a result. Or the story of the placement of their children in a kindergarten by Tabakov’s hands, bypassing the queue from large families or families with disabled children. So I find it hard to believe in the holiness and disinterestedness of the impulses of Anatoly Bely. Well, God be his judge.

I contacted the director of Lenkom, Mark Varshaver, and asked him to comment on what had happened.

– We were taking to Tel Aviv a restored version of Zakharov’s performance, it was made by Alexander Lazarev. We received funds from patrons for this trip. An agreement was signed with the Habima hall, which has more than 900 seats. Tickets began to be sold and quite actively. Suddenly we find out that there is a persecution of Lenkom, headed by the former artist of the Moscow Art Theater Bely. There are threats to the theater, to the artists Olesya Zheleznyak and Andrey Leonov, who have their own position on issues related to the SVO. For this, they are offered to take revenge and not be allowed into the country.

– Specify, are we talking about physical threats, or is it psychological pressure?

– You know, it would be better to openly threaten, I would understand what to prepare for. But I can’t risk the life and health of a hundred workers (namely, that many were supposed to fly to Tel Aviv with this performance). And I can’t risk the reputations and peace of mind of my friends with whom I’ve been working for many years.

– You canceled the tour, but does this mean that you will no longer be taking the “Memorial Prayer”, like other performances, to Israel?

We are now in the process of rescheduling tour dates. I hope that Israel will be able to accept us, as it did for 30 years. Here for 30 years we have shown almost all of our repertoire.

– Did your theater send any official letters to the leadership of Habima and representatives of the official authorities of the city about threats?

“I spoke with our ambassador to Israel. He said, “Pay no attention.” But I can’t help but turn. We wrote a letter to the management of the Habima Theatre. The tour producer also reassured us and promised to provide security. But I can’t rely on anyone and put my team at risk. After all, people can go to the beach or somewhere else, and where are the guarantees that nothing will happen to them?

– The last question: our compatriot, besides the artist, made the mess, which is especially unpleasant. How would you comment on this?

– This is not a compatriot. This is a foreign agent. He collected lists where Ukrainians sign. Just a dishonest person.

In the meantime, controversy has unfolded on social networks, comments are coming. They are not as unambiguous as the leader of the anti-Lenkom campaign imagines. Here is a quote from one post: “I continue to drown for freedom and democracy. And if you think that blocking roads (because you disagree or agree with something) is more democratic than the right of someone to bring those you don’t like, then you have a poor understanding of freedoms and democracy in Israel. Learn to be more tolerant and thinking…

You may not buy tickets for Lenkom, you may sign a petition, you may not go anywhere, or you may not even reply to a post, just passing by to a demonstration with or without flags. The main thing is not to impose your opinion on others. They have the same right of choice and freedom as you have.”

Well, it would seem – you left, boy, and left. I crossed out my whole life and started from the beginning. Why live and feed on a country that you so despise or even hate? Either your professional affairs are so bad and no longer fed, or there is simply no dignity. Or never was.