Mara Ķimele’s “Excitement” at Liepāja Theater presented to the audience / Article / LSM.lv

“The main point always lies in reading the book itself, not in its content,” says a famous but closed Polish writer in an exclusive interview to his compatriot and journalist. In the form of a conversation, the latest performance of Liepāja Theater “Thrill” is also taking place. This is the return of director Māra Ķimele to Liepāja, and it is the first performance of a play by the outstanding Russian playwright Ivan Viripajev in Latvia.

Initially, it was planned that the “Excitement” would reach the audience at the Liepaja Theater in the spring. In addition to the fact that it can now be shown to a much smaller audience at the same time, the time gap between the first and second premiere has also decreased. Both took place on October 17, a few hours apart. The performance of the interview of the famous Polish writer Ulja Riht in New York for a Polish journalist is the return of director Māra Ķimele to Liepāja after a 20-year break. There are only three recordings of her directing at the Liepāja Theater – “Glass Zoo” in 1969, “Otello” in 2000, and now they are joined by the first performance of Ivan Viripajev’s play “Thrill” in Latvia last year.

“Since this is the theater where I staged my first performance in my life, it is still beautiful,” says Māra Ķimele about returning to the Liepāja Theater.

“Then I was only 23 years old, but the walls and rooms are exactly the same, the memories are good, I like it in Liepaja and in this theater.”

The show is a story about a famous writer who is looking for the meaning of life – his work is described by the director, adding: “Probably, we have to say as banal as we all do. And you dare to be yourself, you dare to say what you have felt, understood, which may not always coincide with the official opinion, because we still usually count on official opinions and generally accepted opinions. ”

Actor Roland Baker admits that initially “Excitement” did not excite him: “Because I realized that these are philosophical themes that he may have gathered and put together during his lifetime, and we as actors had to revive them. To give a soul. And that’s the thrill of today. It was a thrill to work with Māris Ķimelis. ”

Actress Inese Kučinska notes:

“Mara is a very, very powerful personality, and she also makes a show about powerful topics – about love, death, about the meaning of life, she solves it and we solve it with her.

Ivan Viripayev is called the most outstanding playwright in modern Russia. He himself staged the thrill at the Bolshoi Drama Theater in St. Petersburg. So far, his works have been presented to us relatively little, however, they have already managed to thrill the audience and the embodiment of these works.

“It took us a very long time to fully understand what the author meant by all this, and I’m not entirely sure if we have fully understood it,” says actor Victor Eller. “But we have certainly felt the feeling that Viripayev has put into this work.”

The audience of the premiere of Liepāja Theater was also thrilled.

“Excited really, it must have come at the right time, its feelings, there has been some time when it has not been and not enjoyed, and its love and the feelings that came especially from the main character was what was very, very much needed now. , ”Admits viewer Dace.

Tomas Āboliņš, the spectator of the premiere, points out: “The one who addressed me the most was the very image of the main character, as she brought her out. He has already told me a lot of truths that can help us in life. ”

Performances “Thrill” in the creative team: director Māra Ķimele, set designer Mārtiņš Vilkārsis, costume designer Ilze Vītoliņa, lighting artist Mārtiņš Feldmanis, video artists Mārtiņš Vilkārsis, Dainars Albužis.

Cast: Inese Kučinska, Viktors Ellers, Sandis Väljais, Edgars Ozoliņš, Ilze Trukšāne, Rolands Beķeris.

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