class="">Danila Kozlovski: „Lopahin is someone who bears the scars of slavery“

“Cherry Orchard” in which you have the part of Lopahin is a modern performance. But Chekhov wrote the play in the beginning of the 20^th century. WhoisyourLopahin? Theownerofthenewworld? What does Lopahin destroy / the old world or his painful memories about his life in that old world?

To me, Lopahin is first of all someone who bears the scars of slavery. He tries to free himself of the marks of this experience. But in this attempt, in his endeavor to build a new world, he destroys everything around him. He firmly believes in the righteousness of his actions, in his project of building holiday houses- symbols of the new world- on the land occupied by the old cherry orchard.

We can draw many parallels between Lopahin’s ideas and those of today’s oligarchs, because just too often, in their striving to put up the world of the 21^st century, they ruin ancient values, that should be most carefully preserved.

How did you approach your character?

Lev Dodin, my director, has really trusted me, there was nothing dictatorial in his directing. He helped me to understand the monologue in the 1^st act and the monologue in the 3^rd act / the two pillars of Lopahin’s character, and I immediately loved the direction where Dodin wanted to go with Lopahin, moreover I loved the direction Dodin wanted to go with the “Cherry Orchard”. And I followed Dodin’s suggestions and gained flesh on the character.

 What does working with Lev Dodin mean to  you?

It means a lot to me, actually. Dodin is my teacher, I studied acting with him for 5 years. He is also this great theatre director who never fails to surprise me. Comparing to my age / I’m 30/ I’ve known Dodin for a long time: 5 years at the Theatre Academy, and I’ve been in his company for 7 years now / but at every rehearsal of every new play he never fails to amaze me, he has this brilliant tendency to always surprise with his ideas. I know, that every rehearsal with Dodin teaches me new things, I grow as an actor and as a human being. Rehearsing with Dodin is kind of really fascinating, it’s great fun. Real wild fun.

You’ve performed your “Cherry Orchard” in Europe and in USA.  And in Romania the audience is looking forward to seeing the performance. How does the audience influence you when you perform abroad? Is there a big difference between the Russian and foreign audiences? You’ve visited Romania with other performances. What can you say about Romanian audiences?

The difference is sort of there and not there. Generally people who go to the theatre are special people, they commit to getting an absolutely unique experience. Some reactions in Russia and in the US differ. But many more reactions to meanings and feelings unite Russian, American and European audiences.

I remember performing “Life and Fate” / those performances were memorable and special for me. Even the few people that stood up and left outraged during the show / because the themes of the production are kind of nerve-wrecking and difficult / even those people weren’t an indifferent audience. All reactions I’ve seen being on stage on Romania / mostly welcoming admiration, rarely indignation and annoyance / demonstrate that Romanian audience is deeply involved in watching a production, they are not passionless observers, their energy helps us, actors, carry out the performance. I look forward to playing “Cherry Orchard” in Bucharest.