Anatoly Efros
Encyclopedia
Anatoly Vasilievich Efros ' onMouseout='HidePop("93062")' href="/topics/Moscow">Moscow
) was a famous Russian and Soviet theatre director.
and managed to transform it from a conservative backwater into one of the most fashionable Soviet theatres.
At that early period, he staged many plays by Victor Rozov, including Searching for Happiness (1957), Unequal Battle (1960), Before Supper (1962). In 1963, Efros moved to the Lenkom Theatre
and worked there for three years. It was there that he staged another Rozov's play, On the Wedding Day (1964). Viña Delmar
's Make Way for Tomorrow was produced by him in the Mossovet Theatre (1966), with Faina Ranevskaya
and Rostislav Plyatt
in leading roles.
. Olga Yakovleva and Lev Durov
were the actors he most frequently worked with.
In 1978, he filmed his only movie, On Thursday, and Never Again. This psychologically poignant drama, set in the taut atmosphere of Chekhov
's plays, featured an impressive cast of actors, led by Innokenty Smoktunovsky
.
Taganka Theatre
In the 1970s, Efros collaborated with the stage director Yury Lyubimov on several projects. In 1973, for instance, he directed a TV adaptation of Mikhail Bulgakov
's play The cabal of hypocrites, with Lyubimov in the title role of Molière
. Two years later, Lyubimov invited Efros into his own Taganka Theatre
to stage The Cherry Orchard
.
In 1984, after Lyubimov left the Taganka Theatre
for the West, Efros accepted an offer to run that theatre. Most of the actors, however, treated him as an enemy and sometimes flatly refused to cooperate with him. It is thought that the conflict with the Taganka actors contributed to Efros's premature death.
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
) was a famous Russian and Soviet theatre director.
Children's Theatre and the Lenkom
Efros was born in Kharkov. In 1954, he was appointed to run the Central Theatre for Children in MoscowMoscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
and managed to transform it from a conservative backwater into one of the most fashionable Soviet theatres.
At that early period, he staged many plays by Victor Rozov, including Searching for Happiness (1957), Unequal Battle (1960), Before Supper (1962). In 1963, Efros moved to the Lenkom Theatre
Lenkom Theatre
Lenkom Theatre is the official name of what was once known as the Moscow State Theatre named after Lenin's Komsomol. Designed by Illarion Ivanov-Schitz, it was built in 1907 to house a Merchant's Club, and was home to many theatrical and musical performances...
and worked there for three years. It was there that he staged another Rozov's play, On the Wedding Day (1964). Viña Delmar
Viña Delmar
Viña Delmar was a twenteth century American author, playwright, and screenwriter. With the editorial assistance of her husband, Eugene, she wrote or adapted about twenty plays which were produced as films during her lifetime—a career that lasted from 1929 to 1956...
's Make Way for Tomorrow was produced by him in the Mossovet Theatre (1966), with Faina Ranevskaya
Faina Ranevskaya
Faina Georgievna Ranevskaya is recognized as one of the greatest Soviet Russian actors in both tragedy and comedy. She was also famous for her aphorisms....
and Rostislav Plyatt
Rostislav Plyatt
Rostislav Plyatt is a famous Russian actor. He appeared in numerous films from 1939 to 1987 including Makes the Whole World Kin, Seventeen Moments of Spring, Going Inside a Storm, and Zoya. He won the People's Artist of the USSR in 1961 and State Prize winner of the USSR in 1982. He was born in...
in leading roles.
Malaya Bronnaya Theatre
The most fruitful period of Efros's career is associated with his work in the Malaya Bronnaya Theatre http://mbronnaya.theatre.ru/ (1967-84). While working in that theatre, he staged a number of classical masterpieces by Shakespeare and MolièreMolière
Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, known by his stage name Molière, was a French playwright and actor who is considered to be one of the greatest masters of comedy in Western literature...
. Olga Yakovleva and Lev Durov
Lev Durov
Lev Konstantinovich Durov is a Soviet/Russian theatre and films actor since 1955, People's Artist of USSR.-Filmography:actor* I Step Through Moscow * All The King's Men - Sugar Boy* Stariki-razboyniki - driver...
were the actors he most frequently worked with.
In 1978, he filmed his only movie, On Thursday, and Never Again. This psychologically poignant drama, set in the taut atmosphere of Chekhov
Anton Chekhov
Anton Pavlovich Chekhov was a Russian physician, dramatist and author who is considered to be among the greatest writers of short stories in history. His career as a dramatist produced four classics and his best short stories are held in high esteem by writers and critics...
's plays, featured an impressive cast of actors, led by Innokenty Smoktunovsky
Innokenty Smoktunovsky
Innokentiy Mikhailovich Smoktunovsky was a Soviet actor acclaimed as the "king of Soviet actors". He was named People's Artist of the USSR in 1974 and the Hero of Socialist Labour in 1990....
.
Taganka TheatreTaganka TheatreTaganka Theatre is a theater located in the Art Nouveau building on Taganka Square in Moscow. The theatre was founded in 1964 by Yuri Lyubimov and continued the traditions of his alma mater, the Vakhtangov Theatre, while also exploring the possibilities of Bertolt Brecht's "epic theatre".Under...
In the 1970s, Efros collaborated with the stage director Yury Lyubimov on several projects. In 1973, for instance, he directed a TV adaptation of Mikhail BulgakovMikhail Bulgakov
Mikhaíl Afanásyevich Bulgákov was a Soviet Russian writer and playwright active in the first half of the 20th century. He is best known for his novel The Master and Margarita, which The Times of London has called one of the masterpieces of the 20th century.-Biography:Mikhail Bulgakov was born on...
's play The cabal of hypocrites, with Lyubimov in the title role of Molière
Molière
Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, known by his stage name Molière, was a French playwright and actor who is considered to be one of the greatest masters of comedy in Western literature...
. Two years later, Lyubimov invited Efros into his own Taganka Theatre
Taganka Theatre
Taganka Theatre is a theater located in the Art Nouveau building on Taganka Square in Moscow. The theatre was founded in 1964 by Yuri Lyubimov and continued the traditions of his alma mater, the Vakhtangov Theatre, while also exploring the possibilities of Bertolt Brecht's "epic theatre".Under...
to stage The Cherry Orchard
The Cherry Orchard
The Cherry Orchard is Russian playwright Anton Chekhov's last play. It premiered at the Moscow Art Theatre 17 January 1904 in a production directed by Constantin Stanislavski. Chekhov intended this play as a comedy and it does contain some elements of farce; however, Stanislavski insisted on...
.
In 1984, after Lyubimov left the Taganka Theatre
Taganka Theatre
Taganka Theatre is a theater located in the Art Nouveau building on Taganka Square in Moscow. The theatre was founded in 1964 by Yuri Lyubimov and continued the traditions of his alma mater, the Vakhtangov Theatre, while also exploring the possibilities of Bertolt Brecht's "epic theatre".Under...
for the West, Efros accepted an offer to run that theatre. Most of the actors, however, treated him as an enemy and sometimes flatly refused to cooperate with him. It is thought that the conflict with the Taganka actors contributed to Efros's premature death.