The play “Coast of Utopia” based on the play by the English playwright Tom Stoppard is an unprecedented production for the repertory theater: nine hours of action covering 30 years of Russian history, 70 characters, two years of rehearsals…
The trilogy, which captured the artistic director of the Russian Youth Theater Alexei Borodin and the actors of his theater, is dedicated to the fate of Russian writers and philosophers of the mid-XNUMXth century. Belinsky, Bakunin, Herzen, Stankevich — each of them dreamed in his own way about the reorganization of society, about freedom and universal harmony. But what did they experience, what did they rejoice at or grieve about, who and how did they love? The British classic made the heroes of Russian history for us living people, and after him the theater actors. Tom Stoppard answers questions from Psychologies.
Psychologies: Herzen, Bakunin, Ogarev — they managed to carry their ideas and faith through all life’s difficulties. Is such idealism possible today?
Tom Stoppard: Yes, there are such people, although idealism is not in fashion today. It can be said that I myself am an example of a confused idealist, because I did not immediately understand: the society in which you live cannot be remade according to utopia. Rapid change on a large scale can only be achieved through violence. I believe in one, much more modest idea that many would consider hopeless idealism: you need to take care of your immediate environment. Be generous and noble in relation to your sister, neighbor … And your behavior can become a contagious example for other people. Such an enlightening bacterium.
Did you manage to do it yourself?
I try to live like this. And a lot of people are trying too. Unfortunately, our nobility and self-denial in a second turn into the purest selfishness under the influence of a variety of life circumstances, and nothing can be done about it.
By the way, your heroes, who thought about the welfare of mankind, at the same time hurt their loved ones.
Yes, in the debate they looked very advanced, for example, they were feminists and advocated for sexual equality. But as soon as Herzen realized that his wife had fallen in love with a German poet, it simply broke him. He was unable to transfer his ideas to his personal life. Of the heroes of my play, Ogarev came closest to the ideal: he is the most harmonious and noble, he has no personal ambitions. He gives the estate to the serfs, and even when his best friend sleeps with his wife, Ogarev behaves like a resigned husband. And Herzen says: this is not weakness, but strength. I don’t know what kind of poet Ogarev was, but he was a great man, that’s for sure.
Harmony in giving in?
In my opinion, this is the essence and purpose of the family — to be able to limit oneself in order to make a loved one happy. By giving freedom to those around us, we ourselves become free. If you feel it and try to live like this, and not just understand it with your mind, then harmony is possible.