Black-And- White War Monologues Stir Hearts As a Schoolboy, I Had to Write About How I Had Spent My Summer

10 CULTURE The Minsk Times Thursday, July 16, 2009 Black-and- white war monologues stir hearts As a schoolboy, I had to write about how I had spent my summer. Those were golden days filled with sunbathing, making friends, dancing, swimming and playing ball… Of course, anyone who lived through the fiery war years — like the characters in Svetlana Alexievich’s Last Witnesses — will feel differently. Minsk director Vladimir Savitsky recently staged the play for Vitebsk audiences

By Sergey Golesnik ances. Among them are Th e Un- womanly Face of the War and Zinky

…Th e stage is full of elderly peo- Boys. Her Last Witnesses: the Book BELTA ple who are asked to write a com- of Unchildlike Stories is being staged Shrill monologues on war sound on Vitebsk stage position on how they spent their for the fi rst time. According to Mr. 65th anniversary of Belarus’ libera- acter is speaking of with her own triotic War. How could they remain childhood. People’s Artistes Tadeus Savitsky, the story’s passage to the tion and won. Later, aft er reading eyes?” All of the actors have treated unaff ected?” wonders Mr. Savitsky. Koksztys, Svetlana Okruzhnaya, stage was far from easy. “I initially twenty monologues (of over a hun- this complicated material carefully “How could they write poetry, give and other experienced actors deliver read the book on the Internet, which dred in the electronic version), he and reverently. It’s impossible to hide birth to children or sing songs hav- monologues, speaking as 7-10 year has much more material than in its realised that most of the stories cen- behind theatrical displays or jokes; ing enduring such emotional tor- old children who have witnessed paper version. My fi rst impression tred around Vitebsk forests and the the stage is decorated exclusively in ture? It seems impossible! However, torture and suff ering. Th ese war rec- was shock! I thought I’d go mad. It’s Zapadnaya Dvina River — where black and white — we see the actors they managed to survive, using their ollections are especially touching. impossible to invent all these hor- the fascists sank innocent people. as they are,” Mr. Savitsky asserts. own inner will.” Additionally, a real child’s voice sings rors. Knowing that it was the com- He then had the idea of performing It’s impossible to paraphrase Mr. Savitsky admits that, this the warm-hearted, tranquil song Ve- plete truth made me feel quite sick. I at the Vitebsk Yakub Kolas Drama the plot of the story — since there time, he has created a ‘theatre of nus Star. It acts in discord against put the book aside for a while before Th eatre, where Mr. Savitsky recently is none. We simply have 20 childish questions’. Like his artistic team, the stories of the main characters returning to it. Finally, I decided to staged his musical comedy Whif- stories, each a cameo which explores he is interested in hearing answers — confi rming to us that childhood stage it,” he says. fl ers. a penetrating issue. We are pushed to — including from Vitebsk veterans. and war are two absolutely incom- Th e performance was initially to “In Whiffl ers, we used mostly think. For instance, the play asks us Th e latter were invited to the pre- patible notions. be premiered at the Yanka Kupala young actors. Now, I’m asking, to consider whether we remember miere as honourable guests. Svetlana Alexievich’s books have Th eatre, where Mr. Savitsky works “What can I teach Honoured Artiste everything or whether our minds Minsk is to host the perform- been published in over 20 countries as its director-producer. Last year, of Belarus Valentina Petrachkova, selectively ‘erase’. “A whole genera- ance in September, as part of the and have served as the basis for doc- he entered the script in a Culture who joined a guerrilla regiment as a tion of children and teenagers faced Vitebsk Yakub Kolas Drama Th eatre umentaries and theatrical perform- Ministry contest dedicated to the child and saw everything her char- awful suff ering during the Great Pa- troupe’s tour. ‘I’m a Who is Alice? fortress, Even Chris Norman has no answer to this question I’m In Soviet times, it was im- rants. Which song would you mentation. possible to dream of seeing the choose to ‘bombard’ the musi- Th is is one of the most fighting…’ famous English Smokie band cal hit parade? Is it enough to popular songs in the CIS. Was singing live. Th ey didn’t even have one hit? Alice a real person or was she By Zhanna Kolesnikova appear on TV. Meanwhile, I doubt it. Even in the remote invented? abroad, the young, hot-tem- 1970s, when ‘Smokie’ seriously It’s diffi cult to answer, since Shooting of Brest Fortress pered guys fi lled stadiums with made a name for itself, it was the song wasn’t written by me, feature fi lm begins at fans and topped musical hit- not enough to have one popular but by Nicky Chinn and Mike citadel over River Bug lists. Glam-rock arrived many song. You needed to always be Chapman. Amusingly, I’ve never The creators of the film years later... recording new songs. Eventu- asked them who Alice is. I’ll fi nd note that the Brest Fortress English Chris Norman ally, we recorded 5-6 ‘strong’ hits out now for sure — but I’d imag- project is the most com- — a legendary Smokie founder — and everything was, at last, ine she’s invented. plex in terms of production,

— was brought up in the best working out for the best. We felt Do you ever write about ALEXANDER RUZHECHKA with major sets construct- traditions of rock’n’roll and confi dent. We had around 15 top real people in your own com- Sentimental Chris Norman ed especially for the film. Beatles-mania. He recently songs in our repertoire — with positions? ago, the band and I were pas- Not really. Actually, I don’t Cardboard ‘brick’ walls visited Minsk to perform at others of minor importance. Yes. I quite oft en describe a sionate about music. When you think Robin comes to the island have appeared in the cita- Mir Castle. Th e singer admits Naturally, in our modern times, situation from my life or tell of know what you want and have very oft en — he spends most of del, alongside a club and a that he has not lost his author- it’s impossible to move on with a my acquaintances. a clear goal, you strive to achieve his time in America. Sadly, I also bridge — destroyed during ity in the musical world. In the single well-promoted song; con- Your children are also try- it. You should go straight ahead: spend little time at home — not military fighting. The film’s past, he sang with Suzi Quatro, stant advancement is vital. Th is ing for a career in music. Do compose songs, record them, give as much as I would wish. special effects are being recorded albums with Dieter is a hard job — believe me. you dissuade them? live concerts. I assist my children What are you like at taken care of by a crew of Bohlen and drove Jaguar and Th e fi lm about Smokie — No. I fully support them. In with pleasure; we’ve recorded home? around 70 people on the Be- Porsche cars. shot many years ago — add- my childhood, I was also sur- several joint compositions in my I’m calm. In my spare time, larusian side and almost the Mr. Norman, how do you ed to the band’s popularity. rounded by music [Norman’s studio. Who knows how far they I love to read or sleep. I oft en go same number from Russia. like Minsk? Would you like to repeat the parents were professional danc- could go if they have hits and a walking and sometimes jog. As Brest Fortress looks set Th is is not my fi rst time in experience — to make a fi lm ers — author]. In my house, good show. I get older, I’m becoming more to premiere by Victory Day Minsk. I fi rst came here 15 years or stage a musical? you’ll fi nd guitars, keyboards, Robin Gibb, from Bee sentimental. I can be moved to next year. Director Alexan- ago. I must admit that the city I would be keen if someone drums and, even, a recording Gees, recently visited Minsk tears by a fi lm. I spend quite a der Kott tells us that the pic- has changed tremendously in suggested an interesting idea. studio. It’s unsurprising that my and gave a concert. You are al- lot of time alone, sitting in my ture has been designed as a these years. I’m now even think- Th e problem is that there are children are keen on music. My most neighbours, both living studio, selecting songs for discs. full-length fi lm, reconstruct- ing of spending several days here few really good proposals. An daughter sings, one son plays the on the Isle of Man… I don’t have any desire to go on ing true events and starring — to study the changes you’ve acquaintance once invited me to guitar and the other is a drum- Yes, Robin’s house is about holiday and relax, as I can’t lie true heroes — the Brest For- made in detail. give a performance based on our mer. Th ey are just at the start of twenty minutes from mine by idle for long. It’s easier for me to tress defenders. Th e fi lm is You’ll be pleasantly sur- ‘Living Next Door to Alice’ song. their paths — but let them try! I car. relax and think of loft y things at being overseen by the Union prised. Your What Can I Do is I think the idea is not bad but it’s believe that they must love music Are you on friendly home. State’s Television and Radio still performed at our restau- too early to speak about its imple- to achieve success. Many years terms? By Lyubov Vertinskaya Broadcasting Organisation.