Love & Intrigue

Love & Intrigue

Maly Drama Theatre of St. Petersburg, Russia

BAM Harvey Theater

June 9, 2018

Photo courtesy of Brooklyn Academy of Music

The Maly Drama Theatre’s production of Love & Intrigue is being presented at Brooklyn Academy of Music.  Direct from St. Petersburg, Russia, this German play by Friedrich Schiller has been translated into Russian by Nikolay Liubimov.  The play runs two hours and twenty minutes without intermission, and is performed with English subtitles.  Directed and adapted by Lev Dodin, the production is brilliantly conceived and passionately performed.

President Von Walter (played by Igor Ivanov) arranged for his son Ferdinand (played by Danila Kozlovsky) to marry Lady Milford (played by Ksenya Rappoport).  Frustrating the President’s selfish plan for this political marriage is the fact that Ferdinand has fallen in love with Luise Miller (played by Elizaveta Boyarskaya), the daughter of a common and poor music teacher.  The President’s secretary, Wurm (played by Igor Chernevich), comes up with a plan to destroy the relationship between Ferdinand and Louise, and gain the virtuous Louise’s affections for himself.  The plan successfully destroys Ferdinand’s trust and the lives of Louise’s family, but not the love between them.

Photo courtesy of BAM Harvey Theater &
 Maly Drama Theatre of St. Petersburg, Russia

If this story sounds familiar it’s because it is the play on which Giuseppe Verdi based his opera, Luisa Miller.  Much like in that work, the play draws a clear distinction of societal class structure.  Since playwright Friedrich Schiller was also a philosopher, the play makes a strong statement about how the freedom to love from the heart is more powerful than arrangements of love for political purposes and social gain.  In this production this theme is physically and emotionally illustrated through the characters of Luise and Lady Milford.  Ksenya Rappoport portrays Lady Milford as smooth and cunning, seducing her way into positions of power.  Elizaveta Boyarskaya’s portrayal of Louise is genuine and strong, confidently standing on her integrity and true to her word.

Photo courtesy of BAM Harvey Theatre &
Maly Drama Theatre of St. Petersburg, Russia

Igor Ivanov’s character of President Von Walter is commanding, determined and unwavering.  Igor Chernevich plays Wurm as weak and conniving, deceitfully earning his place in society.  These are the men who win in the end, yet it is a tragic defeat for virtue and truth.  Danila Kozlovsky is bold, romantic, and passionate as Ferdinand.  He is willing to give up his inheritance and position for love, yet his fragile ego overwhelms his better judgement. 

This production is romantic, poetic, and vigorous.  It will draw you in and play on your emotions.  Love & Intrigue is playing at BAM Harvey Theater through June 16.

Domenick Danza