Oleg Menshikov and Theatrical Company 814 released its third performance – "Gogol. The Gamblers". As it used to happen before, the energy of the performance began to spread among the spectators long before the premiere: "The Gamblers" were preceded by an atmosphere of excitement, constant raising of stakes, false turns, when it seemed – just now the secret card should fall out of the deck… "But the king still doesn't come!" And when the passions reached the climax…
…A shabby local inn, a hayloft, a wattle-fence, a shed, a ramshackle cart – typical Ukrainian landscape, produced by Alexandr Popov at the "under roof" stage of the Mossovet Theatre. The bored to death servant Alexey (Dmitry Mukhamadeyev) is sitting at the table. He invites the volunteers to taste vodka and lard before a new guest came. There's a vague air of some mystery and devilry spreading about the setting, and you may notice someone inconspicuous, nimble, but obviously quite familiar to Alexey. Looks like the devil himself. Or rather a demon whose work was to make Ikharev choose this very inn for multiplying his capitals. That's right! Here he is, popping out of the shed – fidgety roguish sly fox performed by Nikita Tatarenkov – watching the future victim of Uteshitelny's gang who managed to make the demon their servant.
Ikharev (Alexandr Usov), an intellectual swindler, most of all valuing sharp mind and experience in the science of cheating, becomes an easy quarry for merry gang of sharpers who improvise inspiredly, fool about, don't miss a chance to kick, or slap, or push each other, and make fights for fun just as school boys during the break. Uteshitelny (Oleg Menshikov) is a crafty swindler, smart and intelligent, a connoisseur of people, able to find their weak point, seize them at once, swing and charm, not giving a minute's pause, and… "two cards in widow, and you're beat!" Krugel (Alexandr Sirin), a shy general, a timid fighter, looking comical and touching, confuses the opponent with seeming flabbiness and lack of confidence, but in game, as in battle-field, controls all the directions. Shvokhnev (Alexey Gorbunov) contrasts to both with some severity and reasonableness drawing a picture of a man though hot-tempered, but earnest.
And so rolls the performance played by the swindlers for their colleague – with jokes and bywords at times interrupted with heart-felt Ukrainian songs and merry dances. Easily and habitually the deck of stories about the past deeds is shuffled until it is time to draw a trump ace out of the sleeve – Mikhail Alexandrovich Glov, brilliantly performed by Viktor Sukhorukov. A funny naive old man with ridiculous red whiskers, catlike walk and gentle look, actually finishes pressing Ikharev out: having taken away the last hope, then finally throws him an attractive lure – his silly son, dreaming to be a hussar, Glov, junior (Nikita Tatarenkov).
Here came the hour of triumph for the inn demon! Joyful and brisk he jumps among the cheats, enthusiastically plays the role of a landlord's son naughtily wagging his tail. In the end we will see his other appearance – he will enter the inn-room right through the wall and a purple monocle will sparkle to remind of Bulgakov's "checked" in a cracked pince-nez… But before that there will appear local official Zamukhryshkin (the second bright role performed by Viktor Sukhorukov), leading a heart-to-heart talk with Uteshitelny in the finest Ukrainian language and making the audience rock with laughter. Swindled Ikharev will rush about the room, calling the justice and complaining that "only he is fortunate who is numskull, knows nothing, thinks of nothing…" Eh! Again your thoughts have taken the wrong turn, master.
Menshikov-director has returned to Gogol's play its original meaning, refused all modern interpretations and complex implications and staged a performance about inspired cheating, enjoying game in the game, daring and reckless swindling that twists its victim with cheerful whirl of excitement and doesn't let go until the game is over.
It is Ikharev who is numskull, for takes himself too seriously, gives up his health for making a "secret deck", names it as a woman, but still this "real pearl" is of no use in the game with the buffoonish Uteshitelny's gang. They don't think – they create and the devil himself supports them. The devil who is actually Ikharev's double – not without purpose both actors are entered for the parts of Glov, junior and Ikharev in the playbill. Having expelled his devil, having raised his craft to the level of virtue and considering it the highest achievement of human intellect, Ikharev grows vulnerable for the evil – he cannot recognize him in a restless young man. The swindlers led by Uteshitelny are on good terms with their devils, accept them as they are, and thus know how to rule them and aren't afraid of them. And they accept the stray devil-Glov as well. This is truly Gogol's idea – there's a place for a devil, where he can find a hole, where hypocrisy overshadows the world. But just look into the devil's eyes without fear, show him your power and don't play hide-and-seek with him, and here he is – ready whether to carry you to Petersburg pick-a-back or to win you 80,000.
There's true Nikolay Vasiliyevich's spirit in the hall: the decorations make you recall "the evenings at khutor near Dikanka", Vladimir Nazarov's ensemble of folk music plays jolly Ukrainian tunes and the there's a naughty Gogol's devilry in the costumes created by Alexandr Kalmyk.
"The Gamblers" is doomed to succeed: excellent actors' work, great deal of original directing boons, the atmosphere of dashing joy and excitement will ensure it bright stage life and spectators' admiration.