— How old were you when you first read Nodar Dumbadze’s book “I, Grandmother, Iliko and Illarion”? What emotions did it evoke in you?
— I was in my third year at the theater institute, I was 22 years old. The book left a strong impression on me; especially the moment when Hilarion hits Murad with the dog instead of the rabbit. As he dies, he still jokes and supports Hilarion: “You didn’t do it on purpose.” Nodar Dumbadze describes the tragic scene in a light and humorous way. I was hooked and read the entire novel in one sitting; It was written with gentleness and a touch of sadness.
– The general mood of the novel is optimistic, but there are many sad moments in it, which are quickly – and somehow logically – replaced by humor, and life goes on. Do you like this philosophy?
“When my father was dying, two days before he left, he started giving me some instructions. He worked as a designer and had a nice, expensive laptop. When he tried to advise me something, I said: “Listen, dad, you have a laptop – can I take it myself?” I decided to disturb him a little. He replied: “No, you cannot under any circumstances.” So he was also communicating with humour. After a while, such sad moments are remembered with a smile.
— How did you know that you wanted to stage a play based on the novel “I, Grandmother, Iliko and Illarion”?
— We had a state exam in speaking, and my teacher Azalia Blinova and I were preparing an excerpt based on the novel – in fact, she introduced me to the work of Nodar Dumbadze. Then we even went to the “Pike”, where I received a prize for the Smolensky competition with this quote. And since then I really wanted to put on a full-fledged performance with all the actors.
— Why did you decide to play all the roles in the play yourself?
— I met with different directors, even Tatyana Vasilievna Doronina. He said: “This is a Georgian work, so the play has to be staged by Georgians, I can’t because there is a special flavor there.”
In the end I couldn’t find anyone, I came up with an idea and decided: “No problem, I’ll do it even better myself. I will portray all the characters.” All the characters are very dear to me, I treated them with jealousy – after all, someone had to give the role of the daughter of her grandmother Mary! This is how the one-man show arose.
— What are the advantages, characteristics and challenges of playing all the roles alone?
— It is important to have someone from the outside who can look in and correct some aspects because it is difficult for this person. I approached the performance somehow intuitively and with a strong desire. I read quotes to relatives, to my grandmother – in the last days of her life I came to see her in Sochi. I not only read Dumbadze to him, but also excerpts from Shakespeare’s Hamlet. He was already tired of listening to me and said: “That’s enough. “Turn off the light and go out, please.” In the novel, the dying grandmother gave instructions to her grandson and said: “Now turn off the light and go out.”
— You even play the dog Murad and the rabbit in the production! What is it like to embody these types of roles? Were you able to fully experience the thoughts and feelings of animals thanks to the narratives in the book?
— For me, it all started with a dog. One day, I put my hat on again in front of the mirror at home, looked and thought: “There he is, Murada.” And I decided that he would be the only one who could speak with both Georgian and Russian accents. Because the dog’s cheerfulness and kindness are very close to the Georgian temperament. Following the dog, all the images began to appear without much effort. But my rabbit is not a coward, he is a climber! It’s a very powerful image.
— Was there anyone who was more difficult for you to play than others?
— All the characters are like a whole for me. Even though they are many in number, they are like one, twin flames to me.
— The book describes Georgian food in a very appetizing way! Will he go on stage?
— Of course, there will be no food on stage, I’ll tell you that. I hope it’s as delicious as in the book. So the audience’s mouth watered and after the show they went somewhere to eat Georgian cuisine.
— Have you watched the 1962 film “Me, Grandma, Iliko and Illarion” and did you rely on it when preparing the performance?
— Of course, I watched the movie, I liked it very much. But I didn’t trust it; A theater production is different from a movie. Everything should be brighter or something. Although the film is, of course, very bright!
— Tell us about the costumes and decorations.
— There are no sets or special costumes, so that nothing detracts from Nodar Dumbadze’s prose. Just a black suit, a hat, musicians and energy.
— What melodies will the musicians perform, what role will music play in the performance?
— Musicians will play Georgian folk music. I remembered something from my childhood – “Chlelo-Ash” (“Butterfly”), a song that I really liked, from the cartoon “Sazamtro” (“Watermelon”). Music, dance and performance will complement the national flavor of the performance. I will also sing Georgian songs with the guitar.
— How did you learn Georgian dances?
— We had a state exam in dance at the theater institute, and I decided to prepare a Georgian number. In the summer, I went to Sochi, where my grandmother lived, and signed up for the Georgian dance group “Iveria” for two months. I took a lot of things from there, and some of them came out in this performance.
— What other activities do you do in your spare time?
— I love sports: jogging in the morning, snowboarding, acrobatics, dancing, skiing, skating. I play football when men invite me.
— Are you considering the possibility of staging a play based on the novel “Me, Grandma, Iliko and Illarion” with several actors or shooting a new film adaptation in the future?
– I don’t know, we’ll see! According to this study, this is possible. But I would also like to stage something else.
— Are you planning to tour with the play “Me, Grandma, Iliko and Illarion”?
– Of course, I hope we will go somewhere with this performance. His whereabouts are still unknown.
— You’ve traveled a lot in Russia. Which places impressed you the most?
— Each city impressed me in its own way, we have a versatile country, each place has its own energy. The reaction of the audience in the south comes from the first minutes, but the audience from the northern regions needs to be a little excited. But then they reveal themselves in all their aspects, an incredible energy radiates from them!
— Have you ever visited Georgia?
— As a child, I was only in central Georgia, in the regions of Megrelia and Abkhazia.
– Tell us about your childhood. Where and how did it happen? Was it spiritually similar to what was described in Dumbadze’s book?
— I was born in Yekaterinburg. We went to Gagra when I was four years old. I lived there until I was nine years old and have very warm memories of my childhood and my grandparents. That’s where I met my first love. I spent my childhood in Abkhazia and never went there again; In the 1990s, my grandmother moved to Sochi.
— Do you see a clear difference between the Georgian mentality and the Russian mentality? Abroad, Russians are often seen as tough, there is even the expression “Russia favors the sorry.”
– No, of course I disagree! A smile doesn’t always come from the heart; sometimes it is insincere, “pasted”. When a Russian smiles, he does so with all his heart and opens completely. So Russia is real, Russia is not sad.
— What is the strength of the Georgian people?
— In generosity, joy and hospitality. Power lies in kindness, not in swinging a sword. And Georgia is a people who love peace very much.