Premiere of “Jazz Comedy” at the Moscow Provincial Theater

The Moscow Provincial Theater opened its tenth season with the premiere of the musical performance Jazz Comedy, a modern interpretation of retro comedies from the Merry Fellows era, when Soviet jazz was born. The production became a colorful gala concert with hundreds of performers on stage, in the center of which is the Governor’s Orchestra of the Moscow Region.

The orchestra has become the protagonist of what is happening, the musicians not only perform music, but also participate in the dramatic action, play together with the artists.

According to the story, the leader of a group of street musicians saw a singer on a poster and fell in love with her image. A happy accident brings him to a team where the girl of his dreams sings. Our hero is trying to create a joint program of his colleagues with this orchestra. But the harsh laws of show business put artists in front of a difficult choice: fame and money or freedom of expression? How high is the price of success, and is it possible to sacrifice love for the sake of creativity?

Classic jazz compositions and modern music, dances and tap, original sound of favorite melodies and bright solo performances – all this creates an exciting spectacle, immerses the audience in action, energizes. The legendary heroes of the film comedy “Jolly Fellows” – the shepherd-musician Kostya and Anyuta appear either on the screen, or in improvisations, or in the form of living statues on the Arbat, where the musicians play. Reminding viewers that fashions and rhythms change over time, but true talent is able to break through obstacles and change the world and everyone’s life.

Director Alla Reshetnikova, artist Andrey Klimov and composer Pavel Ambarnov created “Jazz Comedy” as a performance that glorifies the audacity of the artist, his thirst to share his talent with the world. The theater presented a holiday that we miss so much today. And the return to the best traditions of the past, to the golden Soviet classics, reminds us of the connection of times and is now more relevant than ever.

The leading actors of the theater are Anton Sokolov, Grigory Firsov, Diana Egorova, Natalia Kachalkina, Natalia Shklyaruk, Yulia Romanovich and others.

The premiere is timed to coincide with the centenary of Soviet jazz, as well as the 15th anniversary of the Governor’s Orchestra of the Moscow Region.

Galina Snopova.

Photo by Galina Fesenko