Vakhtangov State Academic Theatre of Russia Returns with SMILE AT US, OH LORD This Week

After its sold-out 2014 run of Eugene Onegin last June in Toronto, the esteemed Vakhtangov Academic Theatre of Russia returns with a new theatrical spectacle for the international stage: Smile at Us, Oh Lord: an inspiring universal parable about the basic good in every human being. Directed by the company's noted Artistic Director Rimas Tuminas, Smile at Us, Oh Lord runs today, June 16 and tomorrow, June 17 for two shows only at the historic Elgin Theatre, presented by Show One Productions. Tickets are on sale now through ShowOneProductions.ca, Ticketmaster.ca or by calling 1.855.622.ARTS (2787).

Of Rimas Tuminas' Eugene Onegin, the critics raved: "Anyone who saw the Vakhtangov Theatre knows they are a first-rate troupe," exclaimed The Guardian in London while Paris' Le Monde proclaimed them "brilliant."
The Vakhtangov production of Smile at Us, Oh Lord makes its debut outside of Russia with this North American tour and promises to mesmerize audiences as well.

In what is becoming a regular tour for the Vakhtangov, prior to its June 16-17 engagement in Toronto (its only Canadian date), Smile at Us, Oh Lordperforms June 5-7 at New York City Center and June 12-13 at the Cutler Majestic Theatre in Boston. It is presented in Russian with English surtitles and performed by an all-star cast of renowned actors.

With a plot full of tragi-comedic moments, accented by soulful music, Smile at Us, Oh Lord is the story of an "every man," unrelentingly opposed to evil and wrongdoing, even as the world around him crumbles. His journey opens his eyes - and the audience's hearts - to the fate of Jews around the world during the first half of the 20th century.

This poignant and exuberant work highlights the new kind of poetic physical theatre that the Vakhtangov Theatre is spearheading, and with a cast of 40, it tells a larger-than-life story of the common man, linked to a compassionate great love of mankind.

Smile at Us, Oh Lord is based on the novels of Grigory Yaakov Kanovich, one of the most prolific modern Russian-language writers today. While born in Lithuania of Jewish heritage, he spent his childhood in exile in Kazakhstan. His family returned to Vilnius in 1945, he published his first book of poetry in 1948, graduated from university in 1953 and moved to Israel in 1993. Kanovich is the author of an epic saga dealing with the struggles of Eastern European Jewry from the 19th century to the present day. His books, plays and poetry have been translated into 14 languages with more than 1.5 million copies, and counting, printed.

Based in the heart of Moscow, the Vakhtangov State Academic Theatre of Russia (http://www.vakhtangov.ru/en) was founded in 1921 by legendary Russian theatrical director and Stanislavsky scholar, Evgeny Vakhtangov and continues to be one of the country's leading theatres. Lithuanian-bornRimas Tuminas is the first foreign director to head the Vakhtangov Theatre, where he has served as artistic director since he was invited to hold the position in 2007.

Tuminas first developed Smile at Us, Oh Lord at the Maly Theater of Vilnius in 1994, which he founded in 1990, and toured extensively across Europe. This current production premiered in Moscow in March 2014, co-created with composer Faustas Latenas and set designer Adomas Yacovskis.

DETAILS:

Show One Productions presents

The Vakhtangov State Academic Theatre of Russia

SMILE AT US, OH LORD

based on the works of Grigory Kanovich

Performed in Russian with English Surtitles

Elgin Theatre, 189 Yonge Street, Toronto

Tuesday, June 16 and Wednesday, June 17, 2015 @ 8pm

Ticket prices range from $55-$155

Ticket prices do not include service charges or delivery fees

and can by purchased by calling 1.855.622.ARTS (2787) or online at ShowOneProductions.ca, or Ticketmaster.ca

For more info visit ShowOneProductions.ca/SmileAtUs or ShowOneProductions/Facebook

About Grigory Kanovich - Winner of Lithuania National Prize in Art and Culture for 2014, Grigory Yaakov Kanovich is one of the most prominent Russian-language Jewish writers today. Kanovich was born into the family of an observant Jewish tailor in the Lithuanian town of Jonava on June 18, 1929. Together with his parents he fled war-stricken Lithuania and spent years in exile in Kazakhstan and the Ural Mountains. In 1945 the family returned to Vilnius. Here, in 1953, Grigory graduated from Vilnius State University with a degree in Slavic studies. In 1948 he published his first book of poetry. He wrote collections of poetry in Russian: Dobroye utro ("Good Morning," 1955) and Vesenniy grom ("Spring Thunder," 1960); of literary epigrams and parodies in Lithuanian ("With a Joyful Eye," 1964; Naked Ones on Olympus, 1981); 30 plays and film scenarios (some co-authored) on contemporary themes; and he translated literary prose from Lithuanian into Russian. Kanovich's Russian prose works are almost all devoted to the life of Lithuanian Jewry. The theme of the moral quest of a Jewish boy from a Lithuanian shtetl in his long stories "Ya smotryu na zvezdy" ("I Gaze at the Stars," 1959) and "Lichnaya zhizn"' ("Private Life," 1967) is developed in his trilogy Svechi na vetru ("Candles in the Wind") consisting of the novels: Ptitsy nad kladbishchem ("Birds over the Cemetery," 1974), Blagoslovi i list'ya i ogon' ("Bless Both the Leaves and the Fire," 1977), Kolybel'naya snezhnoy babe ("Lullaby for a Snowman," 1979, translated into Hebrew in 1983). The trilogy, the action of which takes place between 1937 and 1943, recreates the traditional world and spirituality of East European Jewry. The events, even those on the most massive scale such as the Holocaust, are presented through the eyes of a youth and, as he develops, of a young man; in its structure the novel in places resembles a lyrical diary. An epic, philosophic element predominates in Kanovich's cycle of novels devoted to Jewish shtetl life of the end of the 19th and early 20th centuries - Slëzy i molitvy durakov ("Tears and Prayers of Fools," 1983); I net rabam raya ("There's No Heaven for Slaves," 1985), Kozlenok za dva grosha ("A Kid for Two Pennies"). The ethnic character of the novels (the heroes' way of thinking, reminiscent of Talmudic dialectics, and their way of speaking) and the problems they raise (the aspiration of the Jewish masses for national self-preservation, the feeling of responsibility for the ethical and ethnic essence of the people, the tendency of part of the Jewish intelligentsia to reject its identity for the sake of career, and assimilation) brought these works popularity among Soviet Jews. Kanovich visited Israel in 1980 and settled there in 1993. Rimas Tuminas staged "Smile Upon Us, Lord" at the State Small Theatre of Vilnius. (The author of the play, based on two novels by Kanovich - "Smile Upon Us, Lord" and "A Kid for Two Farthings" - was A. Grikevi_ius). The performance was awarded the major prize of the international theatre festival Baltiiskii Dom. In 1994 Lithuanian theatre critics named "Smile Upon Us, Lord" the best theatre work of the season. www.gkanovich.com

About Rimas Tuminas (Director) - Rimas Tuminas is a recipient of the State Prize of the Russian Federation, and winner of the Russian Festival of Performing Arts Golden Mask Award, International Stanislavsky Theatre Award, Crystal Turandot Award, and Golden Nail Award. Mr. Tuminas was born on January 20, 1952, in Kelme, Lithuania. From 1970-74 he studied at the Conservatory of Lithuania. In 1978 he graduated from GITIS Academy. The first performance directed by him was Yordan Radichkov's January (1978), which was staged at the Drama Theatre of Lithuania. Mr. Tuminas launched his directorial debut in Moscow with Oswald Zagradnik's Peacock Melody at the Stanislavsky Theatre. From 1979 to 1990 Mr. Tuminas worked as a director at the State Academic Theatre of Lithuania, and since 1994 as a chief director. In 1990 he founded the Little Theatre of Vilnius, where he staged numerous performances, including Anton Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard (1990); Bertolt Brecht's Life of Galileo; Grigory Kanovicius' Dear God, Give Us a Smile (1994); and Mikhail Lermontov's Masquerade (1997). The theater toured abroad extensively (Finland, Sweden, Poland, Iceland, and other countries). Mr. Tuminas directed more than 20 plays in different theaters of Lithuania and in other countries. Among his foreign works are Chekhov's Uncle Vanya (1992) and The Seagull (1993) staged in Finland, and Moliere's Don Juan (1995) in Iceland. One of the performances, There Will Be No Death, was written in collaboration with poet Valdemaras Kukulas. In 2000 Mr. Tuminas worked at Sovremennik Theater, and in 2002 in Vakhtangov State Academic Theater. Since 2007 he has been artistic director of Vakhtangov State Academic Theatre. After he took over the position, the theater occupied a leading position among other theaters, not only in Moscow but throughout Russia. In 2011 the theater was recognized as the most visited theater in Moscow. In 2010 Mr. Tuminas was awarded the Order of Friendship for his major contribution to the development of cultural ties with the Russian Federation, and preservation and promotion of Russian language and culture abroad.

About Vakhtangov Academic Theatre of Russia - Founded by a legendary Russian theatrical director and Stanislavsky's scholar, Evgeny Vakhtangov, in 1921 and now led by one of the hottest European directors, Rimas Tuminas, legendary Vakhtangov State Academic Theatre of Russia is now Moscow's landmark, located in the very heart of the city, and rated as one of the best theaters in Russia by both critics and audience. Vakhtangov's troupe, that includes numerous Russian star actors, always presents the most original and interesting repertoire, with most of its productions being sold-out months in advance. Learn more about the company at vakhtangov.ru.

Image courtesy of DW Communications.

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