Nikolai Erdman

SUICIDE /A Tragi-comedy in 2 Acts/

Translated from Russian by Evita Mamaja

Premiere: 14 September, 2012

 

 

A small insignificant little person decides to challenge humanity with its inadequacies, and commits suicide. And a miracle takes place – the silly philistine turns into a tragic hero!

 

There are so many things in the world that drive people to suicide. Why do we still remain in this life? Why do we stay and live? What is the value of every second? Life is life and this is a very human story. Through hell, a person finds life, in order to understand that life is worth living. Because life is fantastic!!

 

The Russian playwright Nikolai Erdman’s play is a real theatrical pearl (its original title was The Suicider). The play was never published or performed during the writer’s lifetime as it was deemed to be “empty and dangerous”. Constantin Stanislavsky, the great master of theatre, in his time, compared Erdman to Gogol, but this play, to Gogol’s famous The Government Inspector.

 

 

Performers: Artūrs Skrastiņš (Semion Semyonovich Podsekalnikov), Dārta Daneviča (Maria Lukyanovna, his wife), Lidija Pupure (Serafima Iļyinichna, his mother-in-law), Lauris Subatnieks (Alexander Petrovich Kalabushkin), Sarmīte Rubule (Margarita Ivanovna), Juris Žagars (Aristarch Dominicovich Grand-Skubik), Ieva Pļavniece or Ieva Segliņa (Cleopatra Maksimovna), Ērika Eglija (Raisa Filipovna), Dainis Gaidelis (Nikifor Arsentyevich Pugachov, a butcher), Juris Strenga (Victor Abramovich, a writer), Dainis Grūbe (David Jakovlevich, a composer), Artis Robežnieks (Father Elpudy), Aija Dzērve (Gruna), Mārtiņš Počs (Fedya Petunin), Artūrs Dīcis (Olegs Leonidovich / Lona, a waiter / an operator), Intars Rešetins (Kostya, a waiter / an operator), Inita Dzelme (Zinka Padespana, a waitress / Henrietta Karlovna, a milliner), Dainis Grūbe, Kristaps Rasims, Uldis Grass (Orchestra), Anete Krasovska, Regīna Eglija, Egons Gerdzijevskis, Hardijs Gruduls, Aivita Taube, Līga Zvirgzdiņa, Uldis Grass, Elīna Gailīte, Sigita Paula Cepleviča, Inga Dzintare, Anita Siliņa, Solveiga Brumziede, Vivita Baltrune,  Anta Šeniņa, Inita Bērziņa (men and women)

 

Director – Aleksandrs Morfovs (Bulgaria)

Set Designer – Mārtiņš Vilkārsis

Costume Designer – Ilze Vītoliņa

Music Consultant – Juris Vaivods

Choreographer– Inga Krasovska

Lighting Designer – Igors Kapustins

 

 

2012/2013 Spēlmaņu nakts Awards

Actor of the Year – Artūrs Skrastiņš (recipient of the audience’s popular vote)

Costume Designer of the Year – Ilze Vītoliņa

Choreographer of the Year – Inga Krasovska

 

Nominations for the Spēlmaņu nakts Award 2012/2013: 

Performance of the Year

Director of the Year – Aleksandrs Morfovs

Performance in a Supporting Role of the Year – Lidija Pupure

New Stage Artist of the Year – Dārta Daneviča

Set Designer of the Year – Mārtiņš Vilkārsis

Lighting Designer of the Year – Igors Kapustins

 

Nomination for the Diena Annual Culture Prize 2012 and the LTV1 100g kultūras Prize 2012.