Arabesky drama troupe from Kharkiv arrives for its second tour of U.S. (03/12/00)

Arabesky drama troupe from Kharkiv arrives for its second tour of U.S.

NEW YORK - Back for its second U.S. tour, the Kharkiv-based Arabesky Theater Studio is bringing its repertoire of classical Ukrainian theater to Ukrainian centers this March and April.

Established in 1993 by 18-year-old Svitlana Oleshko of Kharkiv State University and several drama students, this troupe promotes the Ukrainian language through theater in parts of the Old Country long subject to ruthless Russification.

Those who remember their spring 1996 tour will hearken back to Arabesky's original interpretation of modern Ukrainian playwright Mykola Khvylovyi and 1920s Ukrainian revival drama. This time, however, the troupe is returning to America with a new and original program. It is reaching back further in time to spotlight the dean of classical Ukrainian literature and father of modern literary Ukrainian, Ivan Kotliarevsky.

Kotliarevsky's "Eneyida," a take-off on Vergil's "Aeneid," turned Greco-Roman tragedy into travesty. Arabesky take this process a half-step further on the road to farce. An award-winning playwright Ms. Oleshko, has cast the lead character, "Brave Young Eney," traditionally portrayed as a large and boisterous Kozak, in a highly unconventional way - with tiny but towering Natalia Tsymbal playing the hero's role.

With a lady in the lead male role, Ms. Oleshko then cast gentlemen - Ruslan Nykonenko, Vadym Korobka and Armen Kaloyan - in ladies' roles. This fits in with the director's. strategy of literally turning everyone and everything on their head.

Props are few and far between as the courageous crew of four tell the story of Eney and his (mis)adventures, as he battles malevolent monarchs and slays enemies left and right, all the while moving forward in his quest for - well, we will leave that for those who come and see the play.

And the English-speaking readers should be aware that this play is not highly language dependent. Interspersed with 18 adapted Ukrainian folk songs and blessed with excellent choreography and dynamism on the part of the cast, "Eneyida" is a pleasure for all who appreciate theater - and in particular those who are curious to see just what Ukraine's next generation of actors and playwrights has to offer as we slip into the third millennium.

Arabesky also has something for younger kids.

Ms. Oleshko and her troupe have prepared a special presentation for children (and not only children). Titled "Favorite Poems," this is a collection of staged poetry.

The performance has a little bit of everything: music, poetry, dance and song.

And children are portrayed as they are: graceful and complete. One sees children as they awaken, take offense, cleverly plot and plan, eat and fall asleep.

These 20 children's poems by Ukrainian and other authors of various periods comprise a day in the protagonists' lives.

The tour of this Kharkiv drama ensemble is sponsored by the Ukrainian National Association in cooperation with Ukrainian community committees in the cities where Arabesky will perform. The tour, which begins March 18 in New York, extends through April 14.

Among the cities on the itinerary are: Hartford and New Haven, Conn., Rochester and Buffalo, N.Y., Cleveland, Detroit, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Washington, Philadelphia, and South Bound Brook and Newark, N.J.

| Home Page |