SITE GUIDE
SEARCH
REVIEWS
REVIEW ARCHIVES
ADVERTISING AT CURTAINUP
FEATURES
NEWS
Etcetera and
Short Term Listings
LISTINGS
Broadway
Off-Broadway
NYC Restaurants
BOOKS and CDs
OTHER PLACES
Berkshires
London
California
New Jersey
DC
Philadelphia
Elsewhere
QUOTES
TKTS
PLAYWRIGHTS' ALBUMS
LETTERS TO EDITOR
FILM
LINKS
MISCELLANEOUS
Free Updates
Masthead
Writing for Us
A CurtainUp 
London Review
London ReviewBoris Godunov
|
I am a pretext for discord and war— Dmitry the Imposter
|
Irina Grineva as Marina
(Photo:Kean Lanyon) |
The plot focuses on the interregnum in Russia after Tsar Feodor’s death, son of Ivan the Terrible, at the end of the 16th century. When the rightful heir Dmitry is killed aged just seven, the throne passes to Boris Godunov (Alexander Feklistov)— trusted adviser, close friend to Feodor and de facto ruler. However, the suspicion falling upon Boris in the infant king’s murder exposes the new Tsar to both guilt-ridden nightmares and plots to snatch back the sovereign power. Thirteen years later, a runaway monk called Grigori Otrepgev (Evgeny Mironov), poses as the murdered Tsarevitch Dmitry and successfully rouses forces against Boris. With a mercilessly ambitious bride Marina Mnishek (Irina Grineva) on his side, Grigori rouses troops and usurps power in Moscow. However, it soon becomes clear that one rule based upon the foundation of infanticide may have been overthrown, but the cycle of power-grabbing and infant regicide has not.
Boris Godunov is certainly true to Cheek by Jowl’s trademark clarity and focus on strongly expressive performances. With a sense of robust authenticity, the audience see the awful symmetry of murderous ambition, as hopes of a saviour become entangled in ruthless power establishment and past wrongs are repeated. Presented on a long stage with the audience sitting either side like a chapel, there is a strong sense of community across the varied and urgent scenes: whilst a learned monk transcribing his eyewitness account on an old-fashioned typewriter, or besuited politicians stride purposefully and mendaciously around each others’ desires or solemn Orthodox priests sing hymns sonorously. It is now the third year which Cheek by Jowl has been part of the Bite Season at the Barbican theatre and, based on this tense and involving political thriller, we can only hope it is not their last.
|
Boris Godunov
Written by Aleksandr Pushkin Directed by Declan Donnellan With: Alexey Dadonov, Alexander Feklistov, Irina Grineva, Ilia Ilin, Nikolay Khmelev, Olga Khokholva, Leonid Krasovitsky, Andrey Kuzichev, Sergey Lanbamin, Alexander Lenkov, Avangard Leontiev, Nikita Lukin, Evgeny Mironov, Evgeny Plekhanov, Dmitry Scherbina, Oleg Vavilov, Igor Yasulovich, Elena Zakharova, Mikhail Zhigalov Designer: Nick Ormerod Lighting Designer: Judith Greenwood Music Director: Maxim Gutkin Choreographer: Irina Filippova Lighting: Sergey Timchenko / Sergey Govorushkin / Alexey Chesnokov Sound: Valery Antonov A Chekhov International Festival Production in association with Cheek by Jowl. English tour supported by Arts Council England Running time: 2 hours 10 minutes with no interval Box Office: 020 7638 8891 Booking to 17th May 2008 Reviewed by Charlotte Loveridge based on 13th May 2008 performance at the Barbican Theatre, Silk Street, London EC 2Y 8DS (Rail/Tube: Barbican/Moorgate) |
|
REVIEW FEEDBACK Highlight one of the responses below and click "copy" or"CTRL+C"
Paste the highlighted text into the subject line (CTRL+ V): Feel free to add detailed comments in the body of the email. |
|
London Theatre Tickets Lion King Tickets Billy Elliot Tickets Mighty Boosh Tickets Mamma Mia Tickets We Will Rock You Tickets Theatre Tickets |
