Lebedev's work to be staged on 70th year of Indo-Russian

A musical adaptation of Moliere's 'L'amour Medecin' which was translated by Gerasim Lebedev in 1795 will be presented here by an Indian group on the 70th year of Indo-Russian friendship.
The programme scheduled on September 15 has been organised on behalf of the Russian Centre of Science and Culture to promote cooperation between Russia, India and Indian groups and organisations, Yuri V Dubovoy, the vice-consul and head of the cultural department of the Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Kolkata, said.
"We had wanted to invite a group from Russia on this occasion. But considering that Lebedev, who was a pathfinder of modern Bengali theatre had used Bengali actors in his European plays, I thought to pay tribute to him we can only organise a play with an Indian group," he said.

The presentation - 'Love is the Best Medicine' in English is a modern satirical take on Moliere's 'L'amour Medecin'. It is a gritty, jazz musical with a contemporary subtext on a rich father and his only daughter," director of the play Abhrajit Sen said.
The presentation will be co-hosted by the cultural department of the Russian Federation Consulate, the 'Whole 9 Yards' group and Sangit Kala Mandir, an institution promoting Indian music.
Dubovoy said the Russian Consulate is in talks with Kolkata Municipal Corporation to ensure the maintenance of the marble tablet installed at the place of the theatre hall established by Lebedev over 200 years ago on Ezra Street here.

Lebedev had founded 'Bengali Theate' here in Calcutta in the year of 1795 and it lasted for another two years. He left the country in December 1797 for Russia and his work of translating L'amour Medecin remained incomplete.
"This is like bringing forward history that people are not aware of. We wanted to do something through art and wanted to give back something to Lebedev's memory, who had done so much for this city," Sen said.