The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-06-11
- DRAMA IN
The Moscow Stage
Melerhold's Theatre a Workshop of Revolu-
tionary Expressionism

Warus Lne development OF experiment
tation and ideas, but in the presenta-
ton of drama that is alive to the
times. For that reason it is interest
ing to get a bourgeois outlook on
what is taking place in the Soviet
theatre. The following, taken from
an article by the Moscow correspon-
dent of London Observer, represents
such viewpoint.
No where in the world" he saws.
"can the theatregoer exercise such a
wide range of selection as in Moscow.
Side by side with the old established
classical Russian theatres a numbcr
of new producers representing the
most modern in radical tendencies in
dramatic art have appeared on the
scene. And the Moscow theatres old
and new alike generally enjoy the
benefit of excellent acting.
The predominant tendency on the
Moscow stage at the present time is
to emphasize action rather than
thought. Presentation rather than
substance to exalt the actor and the
producer somewhat at the expense
OF the playwright The most icono-
elastic and controversial of modern
Russian producers is Vsevolod Meier
hold, whose theatre is simultaneously
a workshop of expressionism and a
form for the presentation of revoIu-
tionary themes on the stage. Meier
hold starts out by making a clean
sweep CT such conventional stage
accessories as certain and footligbts
Ibis original productions also barred
distinctive costumes, but he is making
concessions on this point.) His
scenery is wheeled on and off the
stage in full view of the audience and
his productions are Illuminated bvi
the rays of large electrical projectors
For nine-tenths of his effect Meier
hold depends upon the special methods
IN which he has trained his actors.
and upon clever and original stunts
OF staging. His actors are mt
through strenuous course of physical
training and many of them could al
most qualify as trained acrobats. To
express various emotions, they lunge.
leap, crawl and turn somersaults with
eqal facility, and their athletic
achievements are made easier bv the
introduction on the stage of ladders.
platforms, staircases and similar aids
to quick and lively movement.
Propaganda Plays.
Melerhold's most popular produc-
lions during the past season were
Roar, China" and "Revizor." The
former production written by
Russian named Tretiakov lived for
some time in China. The story is
based on the incident of an American
killed in scuffle with Chinese boat
men and of a British naval COM
mander demanding the lives of two
6oatmen as a penalty under threat of
bombarding the Chinese city if the
demand is not fulfilled.
"A good theme for propagandist
drama-and Meierhold and Tretiakoy
make the most Of it. Technically the
production is vivid and Chinese cos
tunes and Chinese music add an ele-
ment of exotic color.
"Revizor" was a daringly uncon-
ventional version of Gogols great
comedy of that name which is known
in English under the title of "Inspec-
tor General" The five acts of Co
gol's play were turned into fifteen Of
the shorter episodes which Meierhold
prefers in his production, and all
sorts of liberties were taken with ac-
ton and with characters. The pro-
duction aroused a great deal of dis
cussion and Meierhold was roundly
attacked in some quarters for having
murdered Gcgol's humor.