Theater critics: Khabensky threw himself into the maelstrom of the Moscow Art Theater. But does he know ford?

In the Moscow Art Theater named after Chekhov's new artistic director is Konstantin Khabensky, at the Moscow Art Theater named after Gorky a new position appeared - CEO, it is Vladimir Kekhman. Discussion of this events became the Nr 1 event in the theatrical world.

Irina Mishina

Sergey Zhenovach left the post of artistic director of the Chekhov's Moscow Art Theater of his own free will. Recall: he was appointed artistic director of the Moscow Art Theater in March 2018 after the death of Oleg Tabakov. Konstantin Khabensky behaved rather strangely at the same time: when Sergey Zhenovach took office, it was Khabensky who was one of the first to congratulate him on his appointment, but then began to consistently criticize him.

Recently, rumors about a change in the leadership of the Chekhov's Moscow Art Theater persisted, but other names were called as candidates for the post of artistic director. Among them, in particular, were Yevgeny Mironov and Vladimir Mashkov. But the Ministry of Culture ordered otherwise...

The actors perceived the appointment of Khabensky in different ways.

"Sergey Zhenovach corresponded to the position of the artistic director of the Art Theater, because his creative principle is working with an actor, the ability to make a "person-role". This is Stanislavsky's expression. And here the skill of Sergey Zhenovach was at a high level”, - considers the Moscow Art Theater actor Avangard Leontyev.

"In my opinion, wonderful news. Sergey Zhenovach accepted the theater at a difficult moment and, I think, he coped well with his work. And now the theater, as Nemirovich-Danchenko said, will be faster, higher, more professional. Konstantin Yuryevich is a high-level specialist, and I think he will cope with the responsible work entrusted to him. And we will help him in this”, - says Stanislav Duzhnikov, an actor of the Moscow Art Theater.

In general, in the theatrical environment, the new appointment was treated ambiguously. The opinions of theater critics are sometimes diametrically opposed.

"The first impression of this news is joy. I didn’t see the former artistic director Zhenovach at this place, ”the theater critic Yelena Ronina told “NI”. - Khabensky is an excellent theater and film actor. But what is he like as the main director of the theater, while I can not judge. From the reviews in the theatrical environment, I know that he enjoys extraordinary respect among colleagues. But in addition to everything, the artistic director must have an administrative talent, he has a lot of responsibilities. Will Khabensky have enough time and energy to do everything, given his work in a charitable foundation and filming a movie? In the theater, you need an iron hand.

"Novye Izvestia" appealed to the rector of the Russian Institute of Theatrical Art - GITIS, Honored Art Worker, theater critic Grigory Zaslavsky.

“Sergei Vasilyevich Zhenovach himself submitted his resignation letter. He did not name his successor. The successor was chosen from the bowels of the theater. - says Grigory Zaslavsky. - From this point of view, Khabensky is an understandable appointment, he was named among the contenders for the post of artistic director immediately after Tabakov's death. Another thing is that Zhenovach's departure is largely due to the persecution organized by the Telegram channels. Zhenovach himself, as far as I know, did not use social networks, but this harassment apparently reached the officials and pushed them to the idea of changing the leadership. If it were not for these tough anonymous publications, Zhenovach, I am sure, could have brought the theater out of the crisis. Under Zhenovach, the Moscow Art Theater was a good factory for the production of theatrical products, but there was no strategy in the theater. But not every director is a theater builder. Just like not every actor can be a director. I see the difficulties that Khabensky may face. But he accepted this responsibility, he is ready to throw himself into this maelstrom. But how much does he know ford? After all, according to the well-known proverb, “if you don't know the ford, don't stick your nose into the water.

Director General of the Moscow Art Theater named after Gorky became Vladimir Kekhman.

According to informed sources, he was previously the head of the JFC group and director of the Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet Theater. After Kekhman was declared bankrupt, his property was sold at auction in 2017. In September 2015, the court declared Kekhman's company JFC bankrupt, once the largest importer of bananas. The company owed banks 18 billion rubles. In December of the same year, Kekhman himself was declared bankrupt. Sberbank alone estimated its debt at 4.5 billion rubles. In relation to Kekhman, the court introduced a debt restructuring procedure for a period of six months. How the economics of the Moscow Art Theater will develop in this regard, no one undertakes to guess.

Reference.

It is reported that the income of the Moscow Art Theater named after Chekhov at the end of 2020, as follows from the materials of the Federal Treasury, amounted to 1.1 billion rubles, of which 818.7 million brought paid services (including 583 million rubles of state subsidies). The main item is 629 million rubles. - salaries have become. In 2021, the theater expects to receive 1.1 billion rubles. income.

The income of the Moscow Art Theater named after Gorky in 2020 reached 746 million rubles. (of which 434 million rubles. of government subsidies). This is lower than the cost indicators, which amounted to 798 million rubles. In 2021, the amount of receipts according to the plans should amount to 719 million rubles, of which 319 million rubles. - subsidies from the federal budget.