THE WHITE GUARD
SYDNEY THEATRE
JUNE 2011
The Russians are coming .. the Russians are coming ... or rather they have now ARRIVED exploding onto the Sydney Theatre with this giant sprawling epic of a play.
In a new version retranslated, adapted and directed by Andrew Upton , Bulgakov's novel comes to life.It was originally presented as a play in 1926 by the Moscow Arts Theatre (so yes you can se the links to Chekhov and similarities to 'Dr Zhivago' for starters) . It is set during the 1917 Russian Revolution and Civil War .
In 1930 Bulgakov daringly wrote to Stalin direct, requesting either theatrical employment or permission to leave the country. Bulgakov received a personal phone call from Stalin himself suggesting he apply to one of the State Theatres.Stalin was a fan of Bulgakov and 'The White Guard ' having seen it over fifteen times and his enthusiasm was matched by that of the Russian people . The play , like' Doctor Zhivago' fuses the personal and political at a turbulent time in Russia's history. Three of the main characters are based on Bulgakov's own family - here called the Turbins - who are secretly Tsarist sympathizers opposing both the Nationalist and the Red Army .
Kiev is in chaos and the residents have to decide whether to flee or fight. The play is set in Colonel Vladimir's huge apartment He is a Deputy War Minister under the Hetman regime. He's married to Lena ( Miranda Otto) and they head a large chaotic turbulent household - we see the Turbin family and its numerous guests and friends sing, eat, squabble, fall disastrously in love and guzzle copious amounts of vodka while preparing for the Bolshevik Red Army's arrival. There is fine ensemble playing by all . As Lena's brother's Nikolai ( Richard Pryos) and Alexei ( Darren Gilshenan) - who represent the hardened military pragmatist and his follower whose fine military machine is fast disintegrating - prepare to fight for the White Guard and as the almost farcical mayhem of chaotic destructive war ensues, their lives change forever. Poor Nikolai suffers a terrible head injury .Horrific war scenes encapsulate the terrors of Russia's bloody turbulent history but there is also a an extended dinner scene in Act 1 that portrays family life .
Alexei and Nikolai decide to remain but repairing a Russia smashed to pieces is no easy task . Pragamatic Lena strives to maintain calm and order .Friends dash in, potential suitors sidle by and a sweet bumbling cousin arrives most unexpectedly . Tahki Saul who plays Alexander looks a lot like Nicholas 11 by the way.
Miranda Otto as Lena absolutely glows at times as is superb as the feisty Lena. ( sometimes she looks like a brunette Pre-Raphaelite vision) .
Alexei has some long difficult patriotic speeches about Russia that are handled brilliantly by Gilshenan. According to him ' Our real enemy is the modern world .It hates us for our past' - and will tear his family apart .
the Hetman - local leader of the German controlled puppet government- magnificently played by tall, imposing Jonathan Biggins - seeks to escape to Berlin and there is an air of 'Yes, Minister' farce with the play's comic Germans and its searing study of craven cowardice . John Leary who plays Fyodor ,a ‘Bernard’-like figure ,is tremendous .
The singing in this show is also very important, even accompanying the scene changes . The chorus of men's voices is glorious and much use is made of a piano and a balalaika. Alice Babidge's huge fabulous sliding set designs make excellent use of the cavernous Sydney Theatre stage.This huge production is full of delights and deserves to be savoured .
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Running time : 2 hours 45 (aprox) including interval
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