N.V.Gogol, "The Gamblers". Theatrical Company 814. Produced by Oleg Menshikov, art- director – Alexandr Popov. The performance engages the State ensemble of folk music under Vladimir Nazarov.

Oleg Menshikov's "Gamblers" are worth their expenses. Moreover, they are worth yours. The problem is that 2500 roubles for a ticket is the price beyond any limits, and in the budgets of most Muscovites such theatre expenses are not implied, and it means that many will never see "The Gamblers". That is very, very sad.
The prices form the corresponding public. The performance runs at the Mossovet theatre, not on the main stage, but on the small stage "Under Roof", nevertheless on the days (or rather nights) of Menshikov's premiere the Aquarium Garden was stuffed with cars, mostly of foreign production. Those, who has paid five grand for themselves and their ladies, don't care much about a hundred- roubles parking.
"The Gamblers" are not simply better than anything produced by Menshikov before. They are charming. This charm can't be explained by words, the harmony can't be possibly examined with theatre studies algebra, just like it is impossible to disintegrate a sweet breath of warm steppe wind. You must be a maniac perfumer to do it...
The play is placed by Menshikov in the author's homeland. But, of course, both the sharpers' gang and Mr. Ikharev who was so elegantly swindled by them remain Russians. The decorations mostly remind of "Shinok" restaurant interior: pots on wattle-fence, hay and straw, cart wheels on the walls (will such wheel get to Moscow, if necessary?), large boxes covered with colorful mats. A servant perched at the rugged oak table and invites the volunteers to have a shot before the three bells ring. The spectators don't hesitate, come up the stage, make sure that vodka and pickles are natural, and solemnly propose toasts – everybody's health, one's girl, the soon beginning of the performance and its successful ending. Closer to the event volunteers are replaced with penals – those who are late must have a shot, and the servant doesn't care if you must drive after the performance. The same character asks the honorable audience to switch off cellular phones, and for the first time within my memory not a single thrill interrupted the performance. In "The Gamblers" only birds sing. Free of charge.
Yes, that's right, over all this country bleat and cackle, over the joyful yelps of a dog having recognized a passer-by, over inviting "moo" in the stall and alarmed clucking in the ramshackle shed a nightingale runs. A blessed May shrouded the land of Ukraine. And in this picturesque, warm, as from genre picture world the charming swindlers, the troupe of stray actors warble as nightingales, and their art every time costs their victim the whole fortune.
Menshikov staged a performance about Mozarts (well, at least Salieris) of their business, about true artists and creators. Which field they create in is the other question, but the talent and inspiration are evident. The matches meet in a dizzy duel. The intrigue being twisted is a real jam. Even the "weak unit" Ikharev (Alexandr Usov) relieves the bitterness of his final monologue with notes of admiration: "How devilishly all this was performed!.. how finely!.. go on be cunning after that!.. just quite near you there will occur a swindler, who will swindle you over! a cheat, who will at once ruin the whole building you worked on for several years!" For a true artist, the art is dearer than money. To give the hard-earned, and then give the due – it's not a trifle, only a creative person is capable of it.
And the money… What – the money? As Ikharev wisely comments to the waddled out boy, "thus, probably, the whole Russia must shoot itself". And contemporary Russia even more.
All Gogol's characters are kinfolk. Menshikov took it into consideration. His performance is a poem: nearly every character in "The Gamblers" finds himself a rhyme. Ikharev, though short, frail, and notable not for pleasant whiteness of cheeks, but for birdy nose and large dark eyes, undoubtedly refers to Chichikov. He possesses a number of qualities characteristic of Pavel Ivanovich in particular: prudence in sharping, "scientific" approach, philosophical basis, perseverance and diligence almost fanatical and some intimate tenderness in handling things. Usov- Ikharev induces the deck "Adelaida Ivanovna" to win him another 80,000, finding such intonations as if he was in bed with her and is ready to practice every main man's arguments so fascinating for a woman's heart…
And the purple tail-coat worn by Glov, senior will remind of the dead souls hunter as well. And the servant always reading a book as Chichikov's Petrushka…
In the ending snouts will be nodding to Ikharev as to Cherevika at Sorochinskaya fair…
And Uteshitelny – daring fellow Oleg Menshikov, of course is Khlestakov's brother. Lissome, light, smiling, he flies about the stage, makes pas with his long legs keeping straight ballet back, and you get even frightened: what a plenty of vital force there's in the man, if it is always bursting out as Champaign from the bottle. However it's hard to believe, that this Uteshitelny can "follow one dinner with another one", and on the whole he is too aristocratic for a gang of provincial tricksters, but Menshikov holds another trump in his sleeve: where it is hard to justify the type dramatically, his personal charm operates. "The Gamblers" is just the case.
The whirl of Menshikov's energy doesn't sweep off, however, the meaningful details, which are pleasing for the spectator's eye.
Holding each other on the waist, the restless inn-guests sing heartfelt Ukrainian lyrics. A live band, dressed as villagers accompanies them…
And when the fellows are going to clean out the young silly mop-headed Glov (Nikita Tatarenkov), the repertory will change. A romance about lost youth will be performed, but alla marcia…
For the future hussar even the decoration of the inn-room will be changed – a hookah, a guitar and silk cushions will appear. Leave the hookah, even the walking sticks correspond to the epoch in "The Gamblers". Pushkin had such walking-stick – straight metal rod with small cross bar, in the bottom converging into a spike. You can see it in Mikhailovskoye… But – furthermore. The bottles burst with scatter of confetti.
A coin will roll on the table with sorrowful jingle – everything that remained of Glov, junior's capital.
The stage is covered with cards as with leaves after a storm.
Out of grief Ikharev gets into the box – buries himself alive, alluding to gloomy whether a legend, or a true story that cannot be separated from the name of the great creator of "The Gamblers". And so on.
The play is staged subtly and cleverly, and performed with astonishing naturalness. Viktor Sukhorukov (Lenin from the "Old Regime Comedy") received two parts at once – he is old Glov, a bear, a bumpkin with thin fluff on the bald skull, and local official Zamukhryshkin – the only Ukrainian in the story, round-bobbed, with hanging mustache. Zamukhryshkin's lines were translated into Ukraine, so the sense of his gabbling can be only guessed, and the actor's name was put in the playbill conversely: Rotkiv Vokurohkus. The last name sounds Greek, but the first name is quite appropriate.
...Oleg Menshikov doesn't invite press for his premieres. Or rather invites two or three selected. Those for who, probably, he instituted his own prize. And instituted not alone, but together with Konstantin Raikin and others who even the word "genius" are inclined to take with slight offense. What will suit them – is at least "geniusralissimo"… Five thousand dollars plus free seats in parterre for eternal keeping the mouths shut and hands tied is not a very big prize. Very Uteshitelny [Uteshitelny is a kind of "speaking" name which means "comforting", and here the author uses the pun] prize, I would say. So, don't bother inviting us, dear Oleg Evgeniyevich! We are ready to ruin the accounts departments of our editions, for later have the right to write freely and unselfishly: Menshikov's "Gamblers" is a wonderful performance, which is worth any sum of money. If you have it, of course.