MEMORIAL PRAYER. Director Anatoly Beyrak

It’s been quite a while since a short novel by the classical Jewish writer Sholem-Aleichem Tevye the Dairyman written at the beginning of the XX century became the source of numerous catch phrases. Sad and funny at the same time, the life story of Tevye and his family was turned into one of the best musicals of all times  - “Fiddler on the Roof” - staged on Broadway in the 60ies. Later on in the 80ies, the Russian playwright Grigory Gorin created one of his best plays – Memorial Prayer. Based on the writings of Sholem-Aleichem, it was written especially for Mark Zakharov and Lenkom Theater. The small world of the Ukrainian Anatovka village, where the family of the dairyman lives, is shaken by truly tragic events. Though Tevye faces serious hardships, the wise Jew always finds something funny in trifles and smiles at the new day.

All the five daughters, for whom a successful marriage is the only chance to get out of poverty, one after another choose their way despite their father’s will. The eldest daughter has a rich fiancé, but she falls in love with a man without a penny. Jew bashings take place everywhere, there is a sense of rebel in the air while Tevye’s roomer turns out to be a rebellion. When he is exiled to Siberia, the second daughter follows him. The third one chooses a Russian guy, puts her faith aside and gets married according to the orthodox tradition. Tevye’s beloved wife dies making him a heart-broken widower. Home must be left forever, the Jews are being moved beyond the Pale of Settlement. Is it possible not to argue with God while pain and loss are making you mad? Is it possible not to blame the fate?

Traditions built through the centuries are being ruined, the regular order and the world itself are falling apart at the seams. But the life goes on and the main hero has to make his choice not with his mind, but with his heart. He has to make up the quarrel with God.

The cast: Honoured Artist of Russia Sergey Lunin, Honoured Artist of Russia Nadezhda Yefremenko, Ludmila Fesenko, Leonid Klyots, Igor Postnov, Dmitry Denisov, Anna Sorokina, Zakhar Mashnenkov and others.