Roma Performers Open Season

The Romance State Gypsy Musical Drama Theater opened its seventh season two weeks ago with a concert made of scenes from various plays, with heartfelt songs and fiery dances long loved by the audience. Artistic director Ihor Krykunov assures us that the company has big plans for the next season. They are working on Ivan Khrustalev’s musical Four Bridegrooms and they want to “stage our own version of Lesia Ukrayinka’s Forest Song,” also a television project, and generally acquaint the audience with the best samples of Roma culture. The company runs the Amaliata children’s studio: three groups composed of children aged 6-18. “They will take over the company,” he said, “and it is an unusual one. We have 25 persons on payroll, including 18 members of the cast. I think that they are all professionals and stars; they are excellent dancers, singers, and they play different instruments. Most importantly, they love their company. We staged Amala the second time this August, starring Gypsies from Ukraine, post-Soviet states, and the West. The audiences liked our program. Despite many problems we’ll continue to familiarize people with Roma culture. I see this as the festival’s principal objective.

“Unfortunately, the project made by Romance jointly with Ukrainian pop singers and musicians and staged at the Operetta only twice has since been shelved. The Gypsies musical, based on Garcia Lorca’s lyrics and Aleksandr Pushkin’s title poem, starred young popular singers Dmytro Klymashko, Annie Lorak, and Oksana Khozhai. And it was their first theatrical appearance. The performance turned out to be quite interesting, although for the pop stars the theater remains a hobby. For us, it’s everyday work. Their producers refused to let other singers perform in the musical, so we can’t include it in the repertory.”

Ihor Krykunov’s benefit performance, commemorating the thirtieth anniversary of his career, is scheduled for the beginning of March, at the Ukraine Palace. Negotiations are underway with gypsy performing groups in Ukraine and Russia.