New Productions, Revivals Bring Life to Yerevan Theatres

If the reader still thinks this sounds a bit trivial in the midst of what is happening now in Armenia, I insist on the opposite view and say it is vital; a fundamental necessity that must enjoy the full support of the government.

Allow me, on this occasion, to mention just two reproaches. This does not only refer to this particular performance nor this specific company. The contemporary Armenian stage suffers noticeably from a lack of voice and speech training. Diction is mostly rather poor and quite often sentences are more double-guessed by the public than properly heard. The audience should not only fully understand the text but also avoid asking one another “what did he say?” Perhaps audiences are also to blame for being less demanding in this particular field having been used to watching TV shows and not bothering to miss some of the dialogue. After all, speech is the most essential craft to master in the art of theatre. I am hopeful that this deficiency will be corrected shortly.

The second, more dangerous problem, is the fact that most audience members are still not wearing masks while the performers are risking their lives on stage to provide them with a few hours of art and culture.

Living-art performers ought to be considered as working in high-risk and therefore be fully supported by the Ministry of health and be tested free of charge. They must also be considered priority cases like doctors and medical staff members when vaccination reaches Armenia.

To audiences, in Armenia, all I can say is to stop behaving like irresponsible children lest the theatres are closed down once again.

“Love French Style” was designed by Mary Areyan, the choreographer was Naka Mirzoyan and the musical design was by the director himself.

Congratulations to all and carry on the good and crucially vital work.

Gerald Papasian