"THE LOWER DEPTHS": LEV DODIN DIRECTS GORKY'S PLAY FOR THE FIRST TIME
Maxim Gorky's plays are rare in the Maly Drama Theater's repertoire. Artistic Director Lev Dodin decided to make an exception by staging "The Lower Depths," exclusively featuring actors from his Young Studio. This new production marks the studio's fourth production at the theater.
A hostel is the setting for one of the most important works of classical Russian literature in the 20th century, with set design by Alexander Borovsky. The plot centers on the inhabitants of a flophouse, who have found themselves on the margins of life. Each character brings their own personal drama, dreams, and disappointments, and their conversations about truth, hope, and human dignity gradually unfold into a profound reflection on the nature of man and society.
In Lev Dodin's interpretation, the flophouse transforms into a kind of philosophical club — the director devotes particular attention to the characters' psychological depth, transforming the production into a reflective performance. The now-famous phrases "Man, it sounds proud" or "No flea is bad..." transform from accents into insignificant remarks, raising questions about the validity of well-worn axioms.
Through the characters' lives, the play explores themes of loneliness, inner freedom, compassion, and the search for meaning in life. The play combines the traditions of psychological theater with contemporary theatrical language, remaining faithful to the dramatic framework established by the author.
A hostel is the setting for one of the most important works of classical Russian literature in the 20th century, with set design by Alexander Borovsky. The plot centers on the inhabitants of a flophouse, who have found themselves on the margins of life. Each character brings their own personal drama, dreams, and disappointments, and their conversations about truth, hope, and human dignity gradually unfold into a profound reflection on the nature of man and society.
In Lev Dodin's interpretation, the flophouse transforms into a kind of philosophical club — the director devotes particular attention to the characters' psychological depth, transforming the production into a reflective performance. The now-famous phrases "Man, it sounds proud" or "No flea is bad..." transform from accents into insignificant remarks, raising questions about the validity of well-worn axioms.
Through the characters' lives, the play explores themes of loneliness, inner freedom, compassion, and the search for meaning in life. The play combines the traditions of psychological theater with contemporary theatrical language, remaining faithful to the dramatic framework established by the author.
