The Pushkin Theater squeezed the premiere of E.T.A. Hoffman's "Princess Brambilla" into the last days of 1994 to mark the 80th anniversary of the founding of Alexander Tairov's legendary Kamerny Theater. Tairov occupied the building on Tverskoi Boulevard, which now houses the Pushkin, from 1914 until 1950. "Brambilla" was originally staged in 1920. Aside from the spectacular costumes, the new version does little to remind one of Tairov's enchanting style.





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Following the November beating and death threats aimed at Iosif Heifetz, the former artistic director at the Russian Army Theater, that playhouse has been plunged into chaos. Those events were connected with the attempt of a commercial group to gain control of the theater's stage. Heifetz resigned his post in early December before leaving the country for Poland. Since his return, he has not discussed plans publicly, but rumors say he may go to Turkey where he had success in the past.





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A rare public showing at Anatoly Vasilyev's School of Dramatic Art indicated that the quality of the director's local work continues to lag far behind his worldwide fame. He showed scenes from Moliere's "Amphitryon," based on the myth about a man cuckolded by Zeus. The actors played the tongue-in-cheek text as if it were a Socratic dialogue and their attempts at irony mostly added up to pretentiousness.





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