2009-05-22

Dina Sergijenko 

A Musical in a Lithuanian Theatre is a rare guest.  During a given year it is possible to count on one hand how many musical production premieres it is possible to see.  In this theatrical year’s harvest basket came the Capital’s Elfu Teatras, The US Embassy, and Buran Theatre Company’s combined project – the musical or musical comedy – ‘Meilė be Akcento’ (Love Without An Accent). 

American director, Alicia Gian’s musical comedy began not in the usual way - undimmed lights above the audience’s heads, spotlights blaring.  Sitting alone, a mime-director character (Marius Mačiulis) attempts „to catch“ a song about love through the radio waves of a broken radio while speaking with the actors who agreed to act in ‘Meile be Akcento.’  “Ok, let’s try, let’s enjoy it, and why not?” - say the actors to the mime-director who gathers their scripts.  And they began. 

“I Love Paris” –is the opening song of the musical. For those who are not aware – in ‘Meilė be Akcento’ some of the most famous American Musical songs are performed – and there are not too many places where it is possible to hear such music in Lithuania.  Translated into Lithuanian, the actors of Elfų Teatras sing live and are accompanied by: pianist Deimantė Ponelytė and Vaidas Lengvinas on flute, guitar, and accordion.  American culture was balanced with artistic projections of Stasys Krasauskas’ compositions, of one of Lithuania’s most famous graphic artists. 

The show’s story itself is a simple one. Floating in the air and always somewhere near, they tell the story of love: just beginning, blooming, maturing, ending, and love once again returning. On stage the story is revealed by four pairs played by six actors.  “Darling, do you remember how long ago it was that we first kissed?”  -  asks the Old Man (Tadas Gudaitis) in the first scene while nearby in the shade of the Eiffel Tower a new love story gradually is woven, “Would it be possible for me to – to hold onto your hand for a minute or two?” asks the Young Man (Kasparas Ališauskas). 

In another scene and once again of different circumstances and characters, one pair relishes in the love of their successful marriage “For you wake one day look around and say – somebody wonderful married me,” while it is understood that that such bliss for the other couple never will be as they push, pick, bicker, and blame one another for their unhappiness. 

In the end the melody of infidelity is heard, but truthfully I am glad to say that the Director, Alicia Gian, showed this very subtly without any vulgar hints, actions, or movements and yet this scene was not the least bit banal. 

In truth, the four pairs of characters narrated that which all of us know, but often times don’t pay attention to or are not brave enough to say out loud.  The Musical became short etudes in the moments of a person’s life. 

However, at the end of the show, Vytenis Pauliukaitis (TV Producer) asked the public, if it is true that such types of shows are needed, “It speaks about a slow and naïve love, and young people today may not even understand that type of love” – he provoked after the premiere.  But nevertheless, the answer from the audience was unanimous and clear – it’s needed.   

Before the premiere, actor Marius Mačiulis, which in the musical becomes a mime, states the purpose of Meilė be Akcento – to show hope, beauty, goodness, love, and otherwise said – those emotions, which people nowadays are very much missing.  A standing ovation and a sea of flowers for the actors showed that Meilė be Akcento placed the accents right where they needed to be.  "A show is alive while it is still being talked about and while an audience is coming to the theatre," - said Vytenis Pauliukaitis.  It seems that after the premiere of Meile be Akcento the audience will continue to come.