Russian theatre group to stage music-dance version of Chekhov's work

Moscow-based theatre group "The School of Modern Drama", which dabbles in staging plays by modern playwrights and considers classic plays out-of-bounds, is set to stage a musical version of a work of Anton P. Chekhov.

The music-dance version of Chekhov's one-act play "A Marriage Proposal", christened "And Why Are You Wearing A Tailcoat?", has been staged more than 750 times since its premiere in 1992.

According to a statement by the Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Kolkata, The School of Modern Drama will be in the city during June 3-5 to take part in the 6th International Theatre Festival organised by "Kalindi Bratyajon" and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR).

The company will present the play "And Why Are You Wearing A Tailcoat?" on June 4.

Classic plays are out-of-bounds for the theatre group founded by Iosif Raikhelgauz in 1989.

The group works for production of plays by modern authors, popularisation of modern drama and pays special attention to debutant playwrights and stage directors.

"We can't stage Shakespeare, Ibsen, Ostrovsky, Chekhov... But sometimes we really want to. And in such cases, the theatre goes to the trick: it takes some very famous work of a great writer and it is rewritten," said a statement quoting the company.

"And certainly, with the use of music, singing, circus and even classical ballet... So this performance, 'And Why You Are Wearing A Tailcoat?', is nothing more than a music-dance version of 'A Marriage Proposal' by Chekhov," it said.

--IANS

sgh/ssp/nir/dg