The Odessa Music Comedy Theater (operetta)

The theatre company was born in Lviv, in autumn of 1946, and next year spring performed already its first performance with the symbolic name of 11 Unknown”. “We were more ten eleven, but we were really unknown” – the leading actor Mikhail Vodyanoy described later. But in no time dozens of talented actors became known to the whole of the country.

We are grateful to the FIRST – producer Izakin Greenshpoon , orchestra conductor E. Makarevich (he continued for many years as the chief choirmaster), artist A. Naidich, ballet master A. Opanasenko. N.Bucharina performed in this performance (this tremendous comedy actress was the only one in the company, who had the name), E. Dembskaya, D. Kozachkovsky, I. Anipriev, Ya. Zorina, L. Ostroumova, S. Uvarov, I. Gorodetsky, A. Liberro.

Among the performers of “Stanley” was M.Vodyanoi - who performed even not in the premiere group, who would ever believe this? But this did not prevent him from becoming the first actor of the company for forty years and one of the genre leaders in the country. The actors were so passionate, their performing – so sincere, that on April 3, 1947 Lvovskaya Pravda wrote: We saw the first performance and were glad to enjoy its success and health, the good, presented by the young collective, which no doubt gives him the write to live. Further on were Silva, The Merry Widow, The May Night, and, finally the sea-gull - Volny Veter.

Producer I.Greenshpoon with participants of the performance "11 Unknown", 1947

This was the first success on the way of contemporay repertoire mastering, on the way, which has become the theater's major one for dozens of years. This performance was staged by I. Greenshpoon, conducter Ya. Feldman, artist Yu. Stepanchuk, choreographer A. Opanasenko, N. Anipriev and G. Pyshkina.

“Volny Veter”, 1948 wonderful actors performed in this performance: D.Kozachkovsky, N.Kochkin, N. Bukharina, E. Dembskaya, Ya. Zorina, that wa a marvelous debut of E. Dyomina and her unique duet with M. Vodyanoy was born.

There were many performances, 4-5 every season performed mainly on the contemporary theme. They were not afraid to stage classical performances as well: “Princess of Circus”, “Bajadera”, “Maritsa”, “Mademuazelle Nitush”, “Roz-Mari” (in this muxical comedy N. Udod, had his debut. The Chief conducter of the theatre for many years has become I. Kilberg. The performances were staged by V. Sklyarenko, D. Kozachkovsky, I. Greenshpoon.

The Theatre acquired it's own fans and spectators. The Young Theatre has its own creative face wrote the mass-media. Since its first seasons the theatre started its tours around Ukraine. Its Odessa experience in 1950-1952 became quite a success. New bright talents enriched the theatre's company: among them the excellent vocalist Yu. Dynov in Devichy Perepolokh and Goluboy Gusar…

The last performance performed in Lviv was “Wedding Tour”, staged by V. Pikovsky, conducter K. Bebts, artist L. Failenbogen, in which I. Ivanova had her successful debut as Olga. In 1953 the Odessa Drama Soviet Army Theatre was sent to Lviv and the Lviv Theatre of Musical Comedy was placed in Odessa. Luckily, these good theatres did not suffer much, although, there were some losses. Thus, the theatre arrived Odessa and was met by the fans and admirers. It has got a warm receipt on the part of the local Odessa theatre leading figures. By raising of fate-opera Romeo and Juliet, a new modern page of history of the glorified theater is opened.

Period of Odessa

The Theatre became one of the Odessa symbols. Th genre was so close it was to the city character. The Theatre felt this character, its not-invented, real originality, and implemented it into theater's activity so good, that the odessites realized it in no time.The real considerable success on this way became "Bjelaya Akatsiya", performed at the beginning of 1956.

The actors and actresses: A. Zelinskaya, N. Bukharina, N. Kochkin, M. Dashevsky, M. Vodyanoi, I. Ivanova, E. Dembskaya became favorite Odessa ones. The performance was shown in Moscow while touring. The critics confirmed it to be better, then the Moscow Theater's one and announced it to be the “outstanding achievement“. The “Soviet Culture wrote: “the performance breaths with freshness, frankness and playfulness, the charm of it is in lack of embarrassment and merry-making eagerness … the musical comedy images are alive people". E. Groshova, a musical critic recollected: A those days minister of culture liked the performance so much, that he suggested to take the theatre to Moscow! This plan did not come true to life luckily for the theatre and our city. One can't tear

Antheus from the earth, and the Odessa soil became very fruitful for the theatre of musical comedy. The Theatre Company lives an interesting life. One example only: within the first twenty years of its existence it staged 85 performances. It gives premieres even today in the most complicated economic situation, which attract public's attention.

Shortly looking through the theatre's history pages, one has to mention the first director of the theatre M.A.Podshibitkin, who overcame all the difficulties of the organization period and, surely about D.M. Ostrovsky, who served the Odessa Musical comedy Theatre for thirty years. these are not the best theatre days today . we refused all the so-called “soviet repertoire, which once was the mainstay of the creative life. in those performances the theatre did not cunning. the theatre spoke about life, confirmed the humanistic ideals, “belaya akatsiya” remained out of all the “soviet material”. once after this performance ostap vishnya wrote: “one has to either laugh or cry in the theatre. today i laughed. it is more difficult to make somebody laughing”.