In 1949, in hot Spain, the playwright Alejandro Casona wrote a play "Trees die standing". In 2016, in cold Moscow, the play was staged by director Yuri Ioffe on the stage of the famous Theater on Malaya Bronnaya.
The performance turned out to be beautiful, lyrical, sunny-hot, passionate, cheerful and sad at the same time. The fictional story is closely intertwined with the real one, deeply rooted in it, and it is no longer possible to separate them. The lie in this story is like a lifeline that was thrown to a drowning man, but the truth is like a lumberjack's saw, which ruthlessly and alive cut down another powerful tree.
Actors play very easily - they breathe. The emotional images created by them fill the hearts of the audience with a sweet shudder of empathy, make them internally respond, rejoice and grieve for the heroes along with the actors.
I really wish this story had a happy ending. The whole performance, without hesitation for a minute, you are waiting for a happy ending. But he won't. True, with a cynical smirk and in dirty boots, an uninvited guest hammers on the door with his fist: "Didn't you wait? And I came, open it!. The truth in this performance is like a criminal jumping out of a dark doorway with brass knuckles and inflicting a mortal blow.
And yet - this performance is about faith, hope and love.
About the unconditional power of love. The need to hide tears, even when hope is taken away.
And believe in the best, no matter what.
A little about the plot.
I'm in and 
The action takes place in one small Spanish town, and begins within the walls of one small theater. Due to the fact that theater artists have much more free time than spectators, they gather in a kind of creative team that provides good deeds to the population of this town - the Ariel company. It is necessary, for example, for someone to pass for a well-aimed hunter - please! A well-aimed bullet of an ordered and disguised actor will hit a ferocious boar, and the glory will go to the customer. If a petty thief steals a puffy purse or a string of pearls from a gaping signora, he will not have time to look back, as a no less dexterous, but righteous hand, will pull the booty out of his pocket. The stolen will be returned to the owner, but the thief will receive a very unpleasant letter, after which, you see, he will repent of his deed.
An advertisement for the services of a firm of good deeds is given in the local newspaper. Services - are provided both on a paid and free basis. The main thing is to do a good deed! Actors have a lot of work.
One fine day, two people come here at the same time - a pretty young girl and an elderly seigneur. Both are sad and worried. The girl Martha is quickly helped to find a job and shelter. But the request for help from Senor Balboa is of a very unusual and delicate nature. Once upon a time, he lost his son and daughter-in-law, and in their hands with his wife remained a crumb-grandson, who, despite all the generous love that his grandparents bestowed, with age turned into an uncontrollable young man, for which was expelled from his home by his grandfather. But with the departure of the unlucky Mauricio, the sun left their house. Senora Balboa, although she did not blame her husband for anything, fell into apathy. To save his wife, the lord decides to write letters on behalf of his grandson. As water revived a withered flower, so the first letter instantly brought the seigneur back to life. In the second letter, the grandson informed her that he repented of his deed, in the third he said that he had moved to Canada, in the fourth that he was studying to be an architect, fell in love, got married, and so on.
The fictitious grandson pleased the elderly lady with fictitious successes, but at the same time gave - the fullness of life and real happiness. The real grandson, according to the information received by the seigneur, became a criminal in Canada. 
As a matter of fact, I am now only retelling the prelude to the main act.
And it is like this - the real grandson decided to pay a visit to his long-forgotten family. From Canada to Spain, he sails on a steamer, which suddenly crashes. In order to save the sick heart of his beloved wife from the sad news, Ariel received an order for a fictitious grandson.
Grandson Mauricio should come to visit them from Canada with his wife Isabella - by all means!
The agency of good deeds enthusiastically gets down to business.
And this is where the fantastic plot begins to acquire the features of reality. The action moves to the Balboas' house, where the fun begins! Everything in the house is upside down, everything is filled with the joy of expectation, everyone is waiting for the long-awaited arrival of the prodigal grandson. Canvas linen changes to linen, the aromas of the nut cake he loved as a child rush from the kitchen.
How good as a grandmother Anna Antonenko-Lukonina(People's Artist of Russia)! She is that powerful tree, on the branches of which birds' nests are built, and the shade gives coolness to a tired traveler. The elderly señora is so overflowing with love, her happiness is so immeasurable and boundless, that we viewers get a generous portion of it. 
Finally, the grandson Mauricio arrives with Isabella. The first minutes of the meeting with a keen heart, she notices that "The eyes are not the same!", but the actor-“grandson” brilliantly owns acting skills, and Isabella captivates with her spontaneity and sincerity. Memories begin, the grandson, to the delight of his grandmother, remembers everything to the smallest detail, skillfully juggles the details and plays on feelings, he remembers the rosewood branch outside the window, and how many sons the housekeeper Henoveva has, and the tastes of childhood, and other pleasant details. A festive atmosphere reigns in the house, everyone is in high spirits, jokes and music sound. 
How selflessly the actors play - both literally and figuratively! How gracefully they act out all the scenes, find a way out of an awkward situation, smooth out the roughness.
How beautiful everything is - the artists, clothes, scenery, the murmuring overflows of the Spanish guitar, a huge cake in the form of a ship, a spectacular exit with a colorful jug of raisin liqueur and an indescribably beautiful, full of passion and revived life, the dance of Senora Balboa with a fan in her hands!
Mauricio (Andrey Rogozhin) is convincing and damn charming.
Isabel (Svetlana Pervushina) - pure, honest and charming.
The tandem of the housekeeper turned out to be very funny and very Spanish Henovevs (Ludmila Khmelnitskaya) and maid Felice (Tatyana Oshurkova).
Senor Balboa (Viktor Lakirev) organically appears in the image of a devoted romantic husband. 
The actors feel so good in this hospitable house that they involuntarily feel like real relatives. Communicating and helping their grandmother is not a burden, but a joy. Yes, and Senora Balboa herself, with her wise advice, helps Mauricio and Isabella look at each other with new eyes. 
Seven days fly by unnoticed, and now the moment of departure comes, the suitcases are packed, the right words are searched for to console the grandmother. But the truth is in the face of a disgusting bastard grandson (Dmitry Tsursky) stops all this delightful comedy. And Senora Balboa herself hides a burning, murderous understanding of the situation from the young people she loves and with magnificent proud dignity ... continues the game. 
Simplified history
The Tomsk Drama Theater continued the season with an unexpected premiere. The audience was presented with the play "Trees die standing." This is a melodrama by the Spanish playwright Alejandro Cason, written back in 1949. The play was very loved by the Soviet theater 30-20 years ago, it was staged literally throughout the country. It is difficult to find a city where it would never have been played, or an experienced theatergoer who has not seen at least one version of this sentimental story.
The Tomsk Drama is no exception: here “Trees Die Standing” was broadcast in the 1990s under the name “Studio of Illusions”. And theater lovers still remember how great Yuri Kisurin, Arkady Arkin, Elena Kozlovskaya and other actors were in that production.
The choice of this particular play in our days is somewhat surprising. The chief director of the theatre, director of the play "Trees Die Standing" Sergey Kulikovsky explained his decision at the traditional autumn meeting with the audience for Drama.
It turned out that the performance was conceived as a benefit performance for Honored Artist of the Russian Federation Olga Maltseva. The theater expected that she was about to be given an even higher title - People's Artist. The process of obtaining an official document was delayed due to paperwork, and there was no reason for a benefit performance. But the theater did not begin to adjust the production plans.
Prior to its premiere, Trees Die Standing might have been expected to prove to be a "win-win." A simple, understandable melodramatic performance, which is necessary in the repertoire. A performance that gives the audience vivid emotions, with memorable acting work. Alas, this has not happened yet.
staging
The intrigue of Kason's play is simple: Senor Balboa (Honored Artist of the Russian Federation Gennady Polyakov) once drove his only grandson out of the house, he went overseas.
Grandmother (Honored Artist of the Russian Federation Olga Maltseva) was very worried about this story, and her husband began to write letters on behalf of the young man, where he created the image of a reformed person who loves his family, talks about his wonderful wife. The woman believed in this idyll.
Suddenly, a couple of years after the expulsion, the family received a telegram from a real grandson, with good news about his imminent arrival. While Balboa was thinking about what to do, misfortune happened: the ship on which the grandson was sailing sank.
Messages about this tragedy were hidden from the grandmother, and the real grandson was replaced by a person from the agency of good deeds (Anton Antonov), his wife had to be played by Isabella (Olesya Latypova).
Grandmother was happy, her guests also felt the atmosphere of love reigning in the house. But, as it should be in a melodrama, at the most inopportune moment, the real grandson (Vitaly Ogar) showed up, alive, unharmed and, unlike other heroes, very unpleasant. Meanwhile, my grandmother has a sick heart, and it is impossible to allow them to meet ...
The play in the interpretation of Kulikovsky has changed markedly. The first part of "Trees" was noticeably shortened, as a result, many secondary, but colorful characters disappeared from the play, such as a pastor who, in the form of a sailor, sings an old song to sailors about their homeland on the pier, or a thief who manages to steal from other scammers in order to return stolen goods owners.
The play also lacks the touching story of Isabella's acquaintance with Mauricio (Anton Antonov), which is important for the plot, as well as the whole plot explaining why the strange office does extravagant and kind deeds.
At the beginning of the performance, the viewer watching the performance for the first time may well get confused. Two plots develop in parallel on the stage: in one corner, an incomprehensible office of Mauricio “works”, where Senor Balboa addresses with a request to urgently play his grandson excommunicated from home 20 years ago. The rest of the space, partly separated from the viewer by windows for a long time, is Balboa's house. There, his wife hastily puts things in order and impatiently waits for the unlucky grandson.
The play has been shortened for staging, but the action is still unhurried. The whole performance, alas, turns out to be very smooth, even monotonous. From passionate Spain, only beautiful names of heroes remain in it. From secret love - complaints of inattention. Even the villainous grandson turns out to be especially unremarkable, not causing either anger or irritation. Of the acting works, the most convincing so far is Olga Maltseva's Grandmother - with her combination of attentiveness and caring (typical, rather, of Russian grandmothers) with an unbending character.
prospects
Perhaps "Trees die standing" will be the last work of Sergei Kulikovsky on the big stage of the Tomsk drama as the main director. Now he is rehearsing a solo performance by Olesya Latypova based on the play by Diana Balyko "Pine bar", the production will go on a small stage. And after the New Year, the Drama Theater will probably have a new chief. Sergei Kulikovsky has long said that he wants to spend more time in his native Belarus than he can afford with his current position in Tomsk.
There is a chance that Alexander Ogarev, a student of the famous director Anatoly Vasiliev, will take his place. For many years, Ogarev participated in the projects of the well-known metropolitan theater "School of Dramatic Art". In 2011-2013, Alexander headed the Krasnodar Academic Drama Theater.
While it has been decided that he will stage a performance in Tomsk in the spring, it is known that this will be a serious, large-scale work, and details have not yet been announced. If Ogarev and the troupe manage to find a common language, then it is he who, perhaps, will become the new chief director of the Tomsk Drama.
Text: Maria Simonova
Photo: Maria Anikina
Alejandro Casona
Trees die standing
Comedy in three acts
Translated from Spanish by N. L. Trauberg
Edited by Z. I. Plavskin
Characters:
Martha Isabella
Henoveva
Elena, secretary
Felisa, maid
Amelia, typist
Mauricio
Senor Balboa
Pastor, he's Norwegian
Magician
STEP ONE
At first glance - an ordinary large office, untidy, like thousands of modern capitalist offices. Safes, filing cabinets, telephones, voice recorders and similar devices.
To the right (from the actors) is the entrance from the reception room; on the left in the foreground is the door to the director's office; in the background is another door. In the back, to the right, is a bookshelf; on the left are heavy curtains (later, when the curtains part, we will see that behind them is a dressing room littered with exotic costumes; there is a table with a mirror, lit from the side, as in an actor's dressing room).
The clerical environment is disturbed by fantastic objects scattered here and there: fishing nets, masks, dummies without heads, but with cloaks on their “shoulders”, color geographical maps of non-existent countries - a bizarre mixture characteristic of auctions and antique shops.
In a conspicuous place is a portrait of a gray-bearded old man with long white hair and a kind smile. The face is not that of an artist, not that of an apostle. This is Dr. Ariel.
As the curtain rises, the typist nervously looks for something in the filing cabinet and cannot find it. He looks at the note and goes through the cards again, more and more nervous. Enter Elena, the secretary, a woman of respectable age and equally respectable appearance; she brings in folders; during the conversation lays them out on the table.
ELENA. Still not found?
TYPIST. First time this has happened to me. I do remember that I made it myself. We have such an order in the card index, I can find any card with my eyes closed. I don't understand where she went.
ELENA. Maybe there is a mistake in the note.
TYPIST. No impossible. Written by the boss. ( Holds out a note.) 4-B-43. There can be no mistake here.
ELENA. So far, I've noticed two errors.
TYPIST. Two?
ELENA. Two. First, never say "boss." This causes unwanted associations. Just say "director". Second: you are looking for a girl of seventeen among the blue cards. Minors - on white cards.
TYPIST. Lord, what is the matter with me today!
ELENA. Be careful. When it comes to minors, the law is unforgiving.
TYPIST. I always forget about color.
ELENA. Remember, in this house, any little thing can lead to disaster. The lives of many people depend on us. Our work is extremely responsible. Perhaps humanity will someday be grateful to us, perhaps today we will find ourselves in prison. Don't forget about it.
TYPIST. Forgive me... I promise this won't happen again.
ELENA. Hope. And now - let's see if you really find cards so accurately. Stand here in front of the box, close your eyes and give me No. 4-B-43.
TYPIST. This?
ELENA. Very well. Congratulations. ( Is reading.) “Ernestine Pineda. The father is unknown. The mother is too famous. Escape from home. Dangerously. Urgently see sample A-4 "( looking in folders, repeating to himself) A-4, A-4, A-4, A-4. ( Finds, frowns.) Here. Apparently, the case is serious. ( Makes notes in a notebook.)
TYPIST. Let me ask you... I know it's not possible, but I do too... and I'd like to know so much...
ELENA. Learn to obey without question. That will be better for everyone.
He tears a piece of paper out of his notebook and gives it, along with a folder and a card, to the typist.
Make four copies and send immediately.
The typist goes to the door.
And one more thing: if a girl with sad eyes comes, in a French style, and shows a blue card, let her in immediately.
TYPIST. Is that the one with the red roses?
ELENA. How do you know?
TYPIST. I did not mean to. I overheard when the chief...
ELENA. Director.
TYPIST. Sorry. ( coming out.)
Elena sits down at the table, sorts out papers. The Protestant Pastor enters. Everything about it is too finished to be real. He is far from evangelical.
PASTOR. Well, this is already too much. I finally protest! With all due respect, but - I protest!
ELENA (not taking a break from work)). Again?
PASTOR. I was invited here as a connoisseur of languages. Nine alive, four dead. Forty years of study! Five titles! And why? I've been given a menial job!
ELENA. Here's how? Questions of conscience, religious doubts of an elderly Scottish woman - is this, in your opinion, menial work?
PASTOR. So after all again the old maid! Fourth - in less than a week! And what could be more disgusting to an old bachelor than an old maid?
ELENA. Very kind.
PASTOR. I'm not talking about you. You are not a woman.
ELENA. Thanks to.
PASTOR. I wanted to say - you are a comrade, a colleague. That is why I speak to you so frankly. And I repeat to you: I protest, I protest, I protest.
Tears off one of the sideburns. Elena gets up.
ELENA. Calm down, your reverend.
PASTOR ( looks around nervously and lowers his voice). Why do you say "your reverend"? Aren't we alone?
ELENA. Alone, alone. Take it easy.
PASTOR. Oh my God! ( Tears off second sideburn.)
ELENA. And change immediately. ( Hands him paper.) Today you have to complete another important task.
PASTOR ( hopelessly). How, I know. A Norwegian ship arrives. Need to go to the port?
ELENA. Nobody but you knows the language. Think how happy these guys will be when they hear the old song of their country so far from home!
PASTOR. No, you won't convince me that five academic titles are needed for such work!
ELENA ( changes friendly tone to formal). There is no choice here. Either obey blindly, or leave completely.
PASTOR. After all... for the cause...
Dutifully puts glasses and a Bible on the table. She pulls back the curtain, revealing the dressing room. He takes off his coat and, while talking, puts on a sailor's shirt and high boots.
ELENA. Did you manage to calm the conscience of that lady?
The work is written in the genre of a play. It is based on the theme of love and endless devotion. At the same time, difficult life circumstances of people, interesting exciting stories and unpredictable twists and turns are shown.
In the center of the play is Senor Balboa. The grandson of his wife ran away from home many years ago, he often got into a skirmish with his family, so Senor Balboa literally kicked him out of the house. The grandson began to lead a wild life and rob people. The husband, so that the old woman would not be upset and worried, decided on some kind of intrigue. He began to write letters to her from his once runaway grandson. Naturally, in the letters he appeared as a sensible grandson who embarked on the path of correction.
He writes about a successful marriage, a highly paid job as an architect, and how passionately he loves his grandmother. At some point, he even decided to hire special people to impersonate Mauricio's grandson and his wife. Señor Balboa (the protagonist) wanted his wife to be finally convinced that her grandson was an intelligent person leading a good lifestyle. But the carefully planned spectacle failed. Balboa did not foresee such circumstances. A real grandson comes to the house of the elderly and starts demanding money. The old woman becomes ill, she is disappointed and broken. All illusions were destroyed in an instant. She realized that a completely different person wrote to her.
A lot of interesting things happen throughout the play, there is more than one storyline that captures the reader no less.
This play teaches a person not to make such rash sacrifices for the sake of the imaginary peace of loved ones. All adventures sooner or later are revealed, and everything that was once a secret is revealed at the most inopportune moment in the most ridiculous and unpleasant way.
A picture or drawing by Alejandro Casona - Trees die standing
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