– In the course of the stage, you have also had the opportunity to participate in performances with Žani Katlap…
– Yes, of course, we have played together on the stage of the National (Drama) Theater! First, it was immediately after the army, when I had served two years and returned to the theater. Both Uldi Dumpi and I duplicated in A. Griguil’s play «Savu lodi nezhdir» – all the luminaries of our theater, including Katlap, played there at that time! After some time, a play about the French resistance movement was staged – “The Encounter” by Jacques Robert. The role was also intended for Gunars Cilinskis, but he had to go to Russia to film in a bigger movie role. So the director took a risk and gave me the role intended for Cilinski. Once again, the top talent of the theater took part – Alfreds Videnieks, Lilia Erika, Žanis Katlaps… When we rehearsed the play, I had a huge surprise in relation to Katlaps. When everyone had read the play and it was easy to arrange it, we went to the first rehearsal. We all read the texts of our roles, but Katlap already knew everything by heart!… I then thought: is it madness!? Imagine the situation for me – a young actor at that time?! All the old luminaries are in the circle, and Katlaps leaves without a copy…
But after the role in the play “Satikšanas” my stage life really started, because they saw me, then Don Juan came, other bigger roles…
– You already had great roles with Uldi Dumpi in the play “There in the field behind the door”?
– Yes, the show was good, but there were also some interesting incidents. The orchestra pit was covered with a cloth, a hood. Suddenly Katlap came. Someone was already shouting: “Don’t go, don’t go!” But he still went and fell into the orchestra… But everything ended well that time, only with such a good laugh.
– Looking back at your youth roles, who has been the closest romantic lover to you?
– Well, I have had the most soulful roles with Astrid Kairis. In J. Druce’s plays and, of course, also «Blow in the Wind».
– “Blow wind!” in theater and then cinema. There is a huge difference…
– Was first in the theater, then in the cinema and then again in the theater. I was almost married to “Put, vējinim”… And who could have imagined that even now, at the age of 83, I would have to play in this huge performance?!… In the theater, we played Uldi and Baiba together with Dina Kveldi for eleven years, already almost gray staying
– She had no competition for the role of Baibiņa, but maybe there could have been competition with Gunaras Cilinski for the role of Ulda?
– No, I didn’t feel any competition there. I think that Gunnar also realized that he had to leave this role to me.
– Did you both have such a beautiful interplay in Lorenzaccio’s show? A. Janušana had great merit there for his successful direction.
– Yes, it was. He has already kneaded and shaped me so thoroughly as an actor… We have a dialogue with Inta Buran when I am in front of the stage and tell my life story: “I was pure as a lily, but I did not back down from the goal – to eliminate power, the oppression of the people… ” My character was ready to go through any humiliation just to achieve his goal… At the moment when I was telling this, suddenly someone from the hall says: “Oh, God, how disgusting!” After that, I share what happened with Janušanas in the interim. He answers me: “Well, consider that you have played this role!” …
– The interplay of the highest quality!… And dialogues are already good for Đirts Jakovljevs, and if there is also a partner like Lāsma [Lāsma Kugrēna], then it is so wonderful! From the outside, it looks like the theater career has been relatively easy, that everything has gone rather easily…
– I can’t say that it was easy, it was rather the result of the coincidence of such circumstances. I could also be 100 steps away from the theater faculty of the Conservatory. I had no idea that I should go there. But it happened that my friend invited me along… It also happened that I did, but at first I studied directing… It happened that after two years I was fired from the directors, and it also happened that Vera Baļuna said: “Come to me to learn to be an actor! ” Alfrēds Amtmanis-Briedītis was invited to work as an actor in the Drama Theater while still a student! It just happened that way! My fellow students in directing studies were Jānis Streičs, Pauols Putniņš, Arnolds Liniņš, Antonija Apele…
– What was the atmosphere of that time – the 60s – in society, in the theater?
– To be honest, I didn’t really feel the political moment at that time… One thing though – the old actors of that time – Žani Katlap, Jānis Osi, Alfred Videniek – we, if not adored, then respected very strongly. But probably no one has been closer to me than A. Videnieks. We haven’t played with him too much, but what we have done together was very strong. For example, in the movie “Shadow of Death”, where we play father and son, old and young Dalda. If Videniek was not in the film, then everything would be different there…
– Jānis Kubilis said that you sang together a lot during theater outings…
– The way we sang on outings is one thing, but the way we sang recently at the centenary of Kubilis, when he sat me and Uldi Dumpi next to him, that was already something very special!… We sang thoroughly, greeting Kubilis…
– Theaters are getting old everywhere – Dampis and Jakovlevs… If one doesn’t play, then the other plays…
– That’s what they say, but it hasn’t always been like that.
– However, in the theater, the roles changed for both of you, both playing in tandem and duplicating each other… You’ve always remained friends.
– Yes, we have duplicated a lot. Well, yes, you could say that, because in my understanding, friendship is something very special. I also don’t have any other friends like Uldis anymore. There are already a lot of acquaintances – good, great people, but being friends is something else…
– It’s so beautiful that you also had similar roles. In Lilioma – one night Jakovlevs, the other – Mutpis… Wonderful!
– It was so. And not only there.
– There is a photo where you and Esmeraldi Ermali are together with Imantas Ziedonis during the shooting of the legendary film “Pūt, vējini”.
– There was already a tragedy that Ziedoni had a big conflict with G. Piesi about the concept of the film. Ziedonis did not accept the direction and, to be honest, he was also somewhat right… Where can there be only one Gatins in one country house and no other husband?… Where are they?! Off to war? Obviously. Therefore, it is necessary to grind and build the farm for women. There must be flour!… But then suddenly there are neighbors of the thugs in folk costumes, fancy and dancing! … Ziedonis is already right. Have got. But Piesim ar’ had his own opinion.
Many actors were tried for roles in the film. Also for the role of Ulda there were thugs… Also solid and popular, well-known actors. Why was I taken? – I don’t know. But he took, took…
– Because Đirts was completely created for the role of Ulda, you couldn’t imagine anyone else there! Just as Jēkabs Reinis corresponds to Uldi “Blow in the Wind” of the moment.
– Well, I was already aware that I played Uldi very well and that practically no one could stand next to me. But in one show it was like this: the wind is blowing, I’m playing at full strength and the audience is excited… I go out during the interval. A. Janušan was watching and said to me: “What are you doing?! What are you doing?!!!” “What is it?!” I ask. “So are you Uldis? You are a pygmy from a pygmy tribe!” The performance ended, Jaunushan came to the dressing room and said: “Well, now you understand?!” I say, “Understood, yes.” “Well, that was the best show you’ve ever had!” Except for the first act, where I was the pygmy… Imagine – how I felt!? An actor is once on such a flight, but then it turns out that you have never had a flight…
Read more in the September 29 newspaper HERE==========>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
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2023-10-07 17:32:26
#Lifetime #vocation #fulfillment #performing #arts #NTZ
