Report from Varna:
Kiril Asparuhov - Presenter in Black Sea ТV – Varna
If the music summer in the sea capital started with the incredible concert of the Russian pop star with Varna roots – Philipp Kirkorov and passed through the two-day marathon of the tireless Vesselin Marinov and the unique Viktor Kalev, the Varna audience accepted surprisingly the five-day guest-performance of the Sofia Opera in the end of the summer with the musical of 2019 – “Mamma mia”. Two days the company “occupied” the city centre with its unique flash mob and even those, who didn’t know what was going to happen, learned about the music typhoon “Mamma mia”.
The five evenings on the stage of the Summer Theatre were an emotional and artistic meeting under Varna’s stars with the characters of the musical, which rised the spirits not only in Sofia, Belogradchik, Albena. But already in Varna.
The babel of diverse audience of over 6000 people (as age, as well as nationality, as representatives of different Bulgarian cities – I came across to spectators from Kazanlak, from Stara Zagora, Dimitrovgrad, Petrich, Shumen, Dobrich, Devnya...) was a real test for the spectators, as well as for the artists. And what better recognition for a real feast of the senses is the standing audience at the final, which is singing and dancing together with the artists. I know that these, who have grown up with the music of the Swedish foursome are experiencing the moments on their own way. I know that those, who for the first time hear this music fall in love right away and this happens without resistance. And when everybody scans “encore and encore”, it means that the mission is fulfilled. The message for love and dreaminess, for devotion and friendship has provoked her majesty the Audience. And this is great!
The orchestra from virtuosos (always young musicians) under the baton of Maestro Svetoslav Lazarov grasps the attention still from the beginning. The sets of Nela Stoyanova – mobile, artistic, multifunctional, even the Eiffel Tower appeared, and the church “moved” with ease, even boats started “swimming” on the stage, and a wind mill on three floors, and a “taxi” rushed on the stage… How quickly were changing the sets. How suddenly was changing the atmosphere on this Greek island. And how functionally were situated the sets in the green oasis of Varna’s Summer Theatre! How not to say bravo!
And about the costumes by Hristiana Mihaleva – fairy, coloured, colourful, dancing... As even the actors and the dancers were born for these dresses and with such colours! One more bravo!
On the stage was flowing Bulgarian speech. As song, as well as dialogues. High above the stage there was a panel with surtitles for the foreigners. And the audience from little to adults was following the plot line 100% percent and itself was becoming a part of the action.
100% percent were “burning out” also the actors, and the dancers on the stage. Riolina Topalova’s choreography – breaking out, uniting, facilitating the singing and the dancing, was in harmony with the rest of the components of the spectacle. And what oddballs were the performers of the lead roles – Vesela Delcheva (Sophie) – as if born for this role, full-blooded, real, conquering. Lucy Kozareva (Donna) – domineering, vulnerable, loving. Her friends – Yanitsa Maslinkova and Silvana Pravcheva – a wonderful addition to the “legendary trio”. The three fathers – Orlin Goranov (Sam), Niki Sotirov (Bill) and Nikolay Pavlov (Harry) – accurate, comic, having admitted the weakness and the power of their love – a very exact choice.
The born in Varna Denko Prodanov (Sky) – stable, sure in his love and in the singing, was a wonderful partner of his Sophie. And Boyan Arsov as Pepper – a real fire on the stage with his marvellous presence and air, accurateness and rapidity of reactions...
And all this wouldn’t come out, if there wasn’t the director’s reading and skill for the large-scale and the unique, so characteristic for Plamen Kartaloff. Made with a lot of love for the love. With a lot of dreaminess about the dreams. With a lot of craziness, in order to release the hidden craziness in the audience for beauty, dynamics, merry-making, uniqueness. But most of all – for love! How the halls are not going to be full! And the audience, regardless of age and nationality, to flock to his spectacles.
If Wagner’s tetralogy focused the attention of the European musical community, “The Phantom of the Opera” and “Mamma mia” proved the inevitable continuation of his director’s work. And already “Les Misérables” will appear!
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MAMMA MIA! – VARNA
