PECTORAL SMACKING OF BRONZE

The ceremony of presenting the Kyiv Pectoral 1999 theatrical award turned into a pompous three-hour show. This time, it seemed, the organizing committee was determined to stage a real performance, as dictated by Theater Day, and the Pectoral awards ceremony traditionally dated to coincide with it. The street Experimental Theater showed a really festive and impressive rendition in front of the Franko Theater entrance, as the ceremony took place inside. The artistic part of the Pectoral ceremony was built in a manner best described as Mulligan stew, a mixture of ballet and buffoons. However, the main intrigue surrounded who would receive the gilded Pectoral crescent.

The tentative and final results of the current handing out of trophies puzzled many. Suffice it to say that the nominations for Best Female Supporting Role, Best Director, and Plastique Rendition of a Play were withdrawn literally the last few days before the final round of the jury’s vote. Awards in other categories caused varying emotions among many in the audience, except for one married couple who were happy beyond all doubt, winning three trophies. Anatoly Khostikoyev received the Pectoral for his Kin IV named the best play and best debut; Natalia Sumska was named Actress of the Year for her Masha in Andriy Zholdak’s Three Sisters. And Shavkat Abdulasimov’s production design also won. The Koleso Theater’s rendition of Flaubert’s Emma and the music for the play by Mikhail Chemberzhi won in the newly introduced category of Best Chamber Performance. In fact the jury believes Chemberzhi’s composition the top of the season. Prestigious actor’s nominations brought the Lesia Ukrainka company performers two Pectorals for their parts in Gogol’s Inspector General. Yuri Mazhuha’s Mayor was found matchless, as was Dmytro Lalekov’s supporting role as Khlopov. The Theater in Lypky’s Adventures of Tom Sawyer was named an outstanding children’s play and Yevhen Stankovych’s music for The Vikings ballet was described as “creative event of the year” (a rather ambiguous judgment). Finally, honorary Pectorals for many years of contribution to the art went to choreographers Anatoly Belov and Oleksandr Sehal, along with playwright Yaroslav Stelmakh.

№11 April 04 2000 «The Day»
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