Theatre Criticism about Yuri Butusov's Performance Hamlet at Lensoviet Theatre

Abstract

The article is devoted to theatrical and critical responses to Yuri Butusov’s play Hamlet, staged in Lensoviet Theatre. The research methodology is based on the principles of the Leningrad (Gvozdev) school of theatre studies.
The study reveals aspects of this work, considered by the authors of the articles. It is shown that the reviews interpret and evaluate both the play as a whole and many of its individual components and properties; first of all, the image of the main character performed by actress Laura Pitskhelauri; the last episode of the play, which differs significantly from the finale of the play; as well as the quality and role of the translation of Shakespeare’s text by A. Chernov, which is used in the performance.
It has been established that the content of the play as specifically theatrical, that is, in the form of a dramatic contradiction, was formulated by only one reviewer. At the same time, the composition of the stage whole, the method of formation of its artistic content and, accordingly, the type of theatre according to the laws of which the performance was created, remained undefined.