getLinks(); ?>
News from and about Ukraine & Ukrainians: Ukrainian Community Press Releases
getLinks();
?>
BRAMA, February 19, 2001, 10:00pm EST
Lviv theater group's expressive performance impresses New York
Posing beside a portrait of sculptor Mykhailo Chereshnovsky (1911-1994) -
l-r: Oleh Stefan (actor, Kurbas Theater), Natalia Polovynka (actor),
Ludmyla Chereshnovsky (sculptor's widow), artistic director Volodymyr Kuchynsky,
Andriy Vodychev (actor), Anatol Vulvych (filmmaker). The Ukrainian Museum ©HK/BRAMA 2/17/01
| |||||||
Works by M. Chereshnovsky at The Ukrainian Museum ©HK/BRAMA 2/18/01
Scene from "Marko Prokliatyi", Ukrainian Institute of America (UIA) ©HK/BRAMA 2/18/01
"Marko Prokliatyi" ©HK/BRAMA 2/18/01
|
New York - Earlier this month the Les Kurbas Theater of Lviv came to the United States with a fresh repertoire of works destined to tour and grace stages in the eastern and central parts of the country. Saturday and Sunday (2/17-2/18), they did what seemed to be a whirlwind tour of New York City, performing both downtown at the Ukrainian Museum and uptown at the Ukrainian Institute. The Saturday evening presentation at the Ukrainian Museum was a commemoration to the 90th Birthday of Mykhailo Chershnovsky (1911-1994), a sculptor and woodcarver from Lemkivschyna noted for such public works as the iconostasis at the Hutsul Church in Hunter NY and the monuments to Symon Petliura and Roman Shukhevych at the CYM Resort in Ellenville NY as well as sculptures of many renowned individuals. The performance began and ended with the showing of a video/film by Anatol Vulvych of the artist, effectively framing the Kurbas actors rendition of Bohdan Antonych's poetry and traditional songs from Lemkivschyna. The Vulvych video was a meandering work, juxtaposing scenes of rain in New York City and the Karpaty along with shots of the sculptor both working as well as reminiscing on some pertinent and also mundane concerns. This only added acuity to the contrast of the video and the Kurbas actors' performance. Working in a small exhibition hall filled to capacity with little room for any sort of a stage as well as none of the forgiveness of reverberation for poor intonation, they, with small and delicate movements as well as perfect harmony, segued from poetry to song to poetry, taking turns at soloing as well as working in ensemble. Sunday afternoon's performance at the Ukrainian Institute was an extended work titled "Marko Prokliaty, or the Legend from the East", a composition based on the poetic works of Vasyl Stus. Working in the round on a stage of canvas painted with various depictions and quotes, dressed in costumes of similar materials the troupe presented a seven part collage of movement, spoken word, and song. Shifting focuses, changing rhythms and timbres, along with strong executions from all of the actors serve to make this part of their repertoire a striking masterpiece. Bravo! M. Pyziur, BRAMA | ||||||
More BRAMA Press Releases -- Click Here
Comments and observations about this article and other news
may be posted to the BRAMA News & Politics Comment Board
|
|
(56K)