SHCHEPKIN MIKHAIL SEMENOVICH

Russian actor. His name is connected the beginning of Russian realistic theater. Since 1824 - at the Maly Theater. The best role in the works of satirical focus: Famusov ( "Woe from Wit"), mayor ( "Auditor"), Kuzovkin ( "parasite"), Kochkarev ( "Marriage"), Harpagon ( "miserly") and others .

Michael Shchepkin was born on 6 (17) November 1788 in the village of Red Kursk province Oboyan county in the family castle of Count SE Volkenshtein. Misha′s father, Semen Grigorievich, after the birth of her son was raised from the valets to the control of all the princely estates. His mother, Mary Timofeevna married hay girl with her mistress.

Graf patronized family Shchepkin. In five years, Misha studied literacy and numeracy in employee bread shop, and then a priest in the manor estate. The boy graduated from four years of the provincial college.

Already in these years, manifested his artistic abilities: he successfully participated in school plays. Graf Vol′kenshtein demonstrates a talented young man in his serf theater.

In 1802 Shchepkina defined in the national provincial college town of Kursk. Here he strikes all of his abilities. Michael reads a lot - a poet IF Bogdanovich provides his books.

While studying Shchepkin managed to get behind the scenes of local theater - the theater has helped a relative landlords leopards. Misha rewrote the role, carrying the musicians and music instruments, sufliroval performances. Finally, in a benefit performance artist Lykova came on stage theater actors. Shchepkin successfully coped with the role of Andrew, postman in the drama "Zoey". He praised all of the game - and the theater and at home. Three decades after the memorable November day in 1805 he wrote: ". . . that day I will never forget, I owe him everything, everything!"

Count Vol′kenshtein was advantageous to belong to him the fortress became a renowned artist, and he allowed Shchepkin enter into a professional theater troupe in Kursk. Michael was then 17 years. The first time he played, leaving a substitute. Since 1808 Shchepkin becomes a real actor, and about eight years, has Joined the leopards.

Years later he recalled how in his young theatrical wanderings ". . . ate only soup yes porridge" received "very poor wages, and sometimes none at all. But do not give up. No matter how difficult the day was, how late or is over performance, he did not go to sleep without repeating the role for the morning rehearsal, or for tomorrow′s presentation. He would get up at six or seven o′clock in the morning, always the first was in rehearsal, has never in his long acting life is not too late, never missing a single one of them: "My friends, rehearsal, an extra for you, never superfluous for art . . . ′Every approximateness, cutting down or replace the text, he felt shame for an artist and knew the role was already to the first rehearsal.

Shchepkin acted Role actor-buff. The public demanded the usual French "beautiful" and a full set of balagan foolishness. Probably much brightens natural artistry and temperament of the young actor, of the humanity and warmth, which he filled the stilted characters and absurd situations. Performances with Shchepkina always collected a lot of spectators, and the owner even increased his salary. The troupe has toured the provincial towns in Kursk, Kharkov, Poltava . . .

In 1810 in the home theater Prince Golitsyn Shchepkin saw the actor-lover Prince PV Meshchersky, shook his unusual manner of execution. At first Michael thought that the prince was struck by his "inability to play. " "And what is this game? Hands do not know how to act, and says . . . funny to say! - Said simply, well, well, as everyone says. " But, on reflection, Schepkin comes to a completely different conclusion: "And how I annoyed with myself: I had not realized before, that is something good that is natural and easy!" He tries to play in the style of Prince Meshchersky, and he did not get . . . Despite all the setbacks, he continues to look "natural. "

In 1812 Michael Shchepkin married. It was love at first sight and forever. Chosen Shchepkina "freestyle" Elena to marry him, not fearing not only genuine poverty, but also of the bondage into which immediately from the altar with her husband, serf.

In Pskov, in the picture gallery contains her portrait painted Tropinina. The most fascinating in the guise of "turchanochki" (child′s future Shchepkin Russian soldiers were picked up in the ruins taken the Turkish fortress of Anapa) - her eyes, emitting soft light of kindness and patience . . . "Alyosha", so called wife SHCHEPKIN was his strong support in your life and the first friend. She had only to get sick, as it covered the confusion.

Photo — «Shchepkin Mikhail Semenovich»

Different in character, but both generous and responsive, they were remarkably similar.

In 1816 the troupe of leopards has ceased to exist. Shchepkin moved to Kharkov, where he was accepted into the company entrepreneur Stein. Soon, the troupe went to Poltava, where malorossiyskomu Governor-General, Prince NG Repnin, wanted to organize his own theater.

Shchepkin remained a serf. Poltava viewers, highly tsenivshie talent artist to redeem him from serfdom, organized a subscription. The young general Prince SG Volkonskii, wearing combat medals, walked with a subscription list benches merchants summoned to Romni to Ilyinsky fair. But this money is not enough. Then Prince Repnin pay the missing amount from their funds and thus became the master of the actor. But let Shchepkina the will he was in no hurry. Only three years later, in November 1821, Shchepkin with his mother, wife, four daughters, was released, and the following year received his freedom and his two sons.

The amazing provincial actor became known office manager of the Moscow Imperial Theaters FF Kokoshkin. Sent check impressions known playwright, MN Zagoskin, who wrote a very long piece, this time was very brief: "Actor - Miracle monster . . . "

In autumn 1822 the house took Pashkova Moscow debut 33-year-old Shchepkina. He played the role in the comedy Bogatonova M. Zagoskina "Mr Bogatonov, or in the Provincial capital and Ugar role in the comedy" lackey war. According to ST Aksakov, "the Moscow audience was delighted wonderful talent and took Shchepkina with the keenest delight in the full sense of the word. "

Over the debut was followed by a final invitation to go to the imperial stage, but Shchepkin was still connected with the Tula theater went there and finish the game season. Service to the stage of the Maly Theater began in March 1923.

Speaking about Moscow′s new home, one of his contemporaries recorded his observations: "He is completely dedicated work and teaching, gave himself ardently and tirelessly . . . "

External data from Shchepkina were not very scenic: below-average growth, solid completeness. C trehnotnym ′voice - actor joked worshiped Belinsky. C "bleat" - completed the picture of Mikhail Semenovich. Actor himself is often made fun of his appearance, signing some letters "your chip fat" or calling himself "a small square in shape. "

Ongoing training enabled him to build and develop a great voice. His physical appearance of the Schepkin also knew how to subordinate roles, used as he was needed: the comedy sometimes play with their shortcomings, much to amuse the audience, and he rebuked room to forget about their comical appearance and follow the dramatic experiences of the characters. His colleagues, he urged: "Do not be satisfied with one outer finish as you skillfully or trimmed, and will winnow all the cold . . . no! the soul of the role penetrate into the most secret places of the human heart. "

In the early years of the Moscow Shchepkin often had to play in the plays of low artistic level. Although these performances he has managed his brilliant performance to win the roles of glory, love and honor in a demanding theatrical Moscow. Michael Schepkin was a general favorite, idol of the Moscow theater. Contemporaries spoke of him not only as the "first example of a historical figure on the stage.

In January 1830 Shchepkin put in your own bespeak a scene from "Woe from Wit" Griboyedov. The next year he was able to show all the comedy, though with large gaps of censorship.

Working on the role Famusov, Shchepkin sometimes complained that in him there is nothing of the manor and play because it would be difficult. But great creative intuition, observation, intelligence and talent of an actor enabled him not only to transmit the external signs of the old Muscovite master, but also create a complex character. Shchepkin played this role so that one could quite accurately imagine the past man, not averse to use any means to achieve their life′s peaks. His Famusov was chalk, calculating, fiercely hated every freethinking.

Petersburg critic, responding to the tour Shchepkina as Famusov, wrote: "Before you sir, to whom go to the house of Prince Peter, Princess Mary Alekseevna . . . Dryanskie, Khvorova, Varlenskie, Skachkova, all of Moscow to know, he has value, but his confidence is nothing exaggerated, nothing inflated, as host, he even keeps a very modest, simple, equally attentive to all - shows that he was born in this circle - and yet because of its tone, because of its position in light of peeps such banal insignificance, such a limited and petty selfishness that you feel sorry to see him. "

When NV Gogol wrote his brilliant comedy "Inspector", Shchepkin actively contributed to its formulation on the Moscow stage.

Photo — «Shchepkin Mikhail Semenovich»

He recently complained of extreme fatigue, on changing from the constant voltage voice, at once younger, cheered. Gogol wrote Shchepkin in May 1836: "First, you must necessarily out of friendship for me to take the whole thing setting her . . . Yourselves, no doubt, must take the mayor′s role, otherwise it will be lost without you. "

Shchepkin in the role of mayor was exactly the way wanted to see him Gogol. Here′s what he wrote about the actor playing contemporary Shchepkina AP Grigoriev - poet, literary and theater critic: ". . . we think that until the new genius as the talent in the role of Skvoznik-Dmuhanovskogo you in Moscow did not get rid of the image, formed in you under the influence of games Schepkina. In it - the mayor seemed to live entirely in front of you all of its kind in all his habits . . . All lives here and is palpably in front of audience . . . To this we must add that Schepkin depicted for all that the mayor is not a monster of the human race, but an ordinary mortal man, not beast, quietly showed their flaws because he is at heart and does not consider them for their vices. "

Schepkin excellently played, and in other plays by Gogol - "Marriage" and "players". He also attracted a play about the life and customs of the people, with a poetic story, with jokes and songs. He discovered the richness of Ukrainian Russian theater plays, where he played local pettifoggers (in the play Kotlyarevskii "Natalka Poltavka"), clever, clever, cheerful orderly (in Shelmenko-soldier "), Michael Chuprun (in" Moskal - charyvnike ").

But the artist has created not only a gallery of images of Russian and Ukrainian, he was an outstanding performer of the classical roles of playwright Moliere and Shakespeare. He played a great role Miserly Knight in the homonymous tragedy AS Pushkin. Decidedly having gone against the official opinion of the "unactable" Pushkin′s drama, first he read the audience fragments Miserly Knight. Then, having achieved the withdrawal of the censorship ban, put him on the stage in her benefit.

At the premiere, on Jan. 9, 1853 spectators saw the other, a stranger - "tragic" Schepkina: "The role of" Miserly Knight "was higher than in all his previous roles, higher than anything you can imagine . . . " The Miserly Knight ; was the most incredible, most complete, most brilliant value at the scene. Such scenic triumph never be repeated often ". . .

Critics have spoken about this great artist′s work with enthusiasm and, indeed, and his other great roles - for example, sailors were in vaudeville and Sauvage Delyure "Sailor" and Murom of Krechinsky′s Wedding.

Shchepkin outplayed many roles, as he himself wrote, "from Talma to Baba Yaga. " The number of roles they played close to six hundred. This figure shows a rare performance artist, and the reviews, which were full of rave reviews of almost each of his new work, confirm that any of their roles, even the most insignificant Schepkin not treated casually. However, among its many roles were those who "told to play. " Mikhail Semenovich Gogol wrote: ". . . from the artists we have become day laborers. No, worse: journeyman free to choose their work, and actor - played all that commandeth wise boss.

Shchepkin let strong roots in Moscow. By the beginning of 1830 his family had grown to twenty-four. These included, besides his own family, many tenants, which was always full house Shchepkin. "I had in my life two rulers: the scene and the family" - said Shchepkin.

During the holiday he loved to read. Was not averse to playing cards. And to the cards seriously. Once during the game come to him Turgenev. He came up to shake hands with Mikhail Semenovich, he did not even look at him, muttering: "Hello, hello. " And just to finish the game, Shchepkin surprised to find pacing the room the writer: "Oh, excuse me, Ivan Sergeyevich, I have not noticed. "

In their house - "a simple and neroskoshny", famous all over Moscow for its noisy and democratic literary gatherings, loved to come Pushkin, Gogol, Ogarev, Turgenev, Aksakov, Koltsov, a professor at Moscow University, artists . . .

Great family demanded the corresponding costs. Material Shchepkina care not to leave until the end. Mikhail Semenovich even taught drama at drama school. Contemporaries, for example, remembered that Shchepkin in the house always cheap tallow candles were burning. But the efforts of Helena Dmitrievna diligently mistress and, according to her great husband, "living masters", and the permanent masterpieces of livelihood Mikhail Semenovich did not save the family from material hardship.

Schepkin continually toured in different cities of Russia: in St.

Photo — «Shchepkin Mikhail Semenovich»

Petersburg, Kharkov, Kiev, Odessa, Voronezh, etc. Each visit Shchepkina is seen there as a big event not only theater, but also social life.

Once Schepkin said about himself: "I am a full of love. " Countless examples of activities, hot part of a great artist in the fate of the persecuted Russian talent.

Go on tour in the southern province in May 1846, Schepkin took with him exhausted tuberculosis Vissarion Belinsky hoping to improve his body and give the rest of the cruel persecution of poverty. Shchepkin time to play and care for a sick friend. "Mikhail Semenovich looks after me like a tutor for a boy. What kind of man, if only you knew! "- So writes the critic′s wife.

Magnificent, rare storyteller, Shchepkin gave his beloved the most intimate experiences of life. Among them was a story about the fate of serf actress, a chance meeting which was once a young man shook Shchepkina. Thus was born the story Herzen "Thieving Magpie".

Receiving news from the disgraced Shevchenko, 70-year-old Shchepkin, despite the malaise in the middle of winter is going for 400 miles in the lower to meet a friend after a decade of separation. The day they spent in interviews and in the evening went to the theater. Artist played for his friend and the mayor, and Moskal, charivnika, and loved seals ( "Poverty Is No Crime" by A. Ostrovsky) . . . Shevchenko suggested that, perhaps, shared by many contemporaries of the great actor: "But the brighter and more radiant than a great artist is a great man, my sincere, my unforgettable Michael Shchepkin. "

In the real triumph turned into a day honoring the artist 50 years of his stage work, which was noted in 1856. "You were one of themselves zealous and useful heroes in general for all of us to spread the love of art in our country. How to count how many gracious movements awakened artist, how many are ready to go out for all the senses, and caused them alive together. This merit invisible . . . but great. " These are the words of the jubilee address Shchepkin, signed by Leo Tolstoy, Turgenev, Tyutchev, Goncharov, Nekrasov, Pisemsky.

Writer IS Turgenev wrote specifically for Shchepkina Moshkina role in "Bachelor" and Kuzovkina in "parasite". In these roles the actor revealed a truly tragic experiences of the elderly who do not have neither the strength nor the means to fight those who insult their feelings, takes a last joy in life. Role Kuzovkina was the last major work of the actor at the Maly Theater. The play, written in 1848, was permitted to the formulation, when Shchepkin already turned 74 years old. But neither age nor fatigue, nor disease has not prevented a great actor to create a solid, truthful, deeply moving image Kuzovkina.

Shchepkin continued to play, although the forces every year remained smaller. Weakened voice, began to change the memory, but to a certain degree of willpower and work won infirmity.

In April 1863 with a resolution of sovereign Shchepkin was granted for the summer holiday in the Crimea with pay and allowance of 500 rubles. He was happy that he has not forgotten that he valued.

At Yalta Shchepkin arrived very sick, suffering terrible shortness of breath. At first he stayed with his friends, but soon he was transferred to the hotel. 11 (23) August 1863 Michael Shchepkin died.

He was buried in Moscow on Pyatnickoe cemetery. The coffin with ashes of the great actor was lowered into the ground near the grave of a friend and teacher Granovsky. So he left. On the monument of rough stone stamped inscription: "Mikhail Shchepkin. Artist and man. "

Shchepkin passion for theater and his profession: "Theater for the actor - the temple - he said. - This is his sanctuary! Your life, your honor - everything belongs irrevocably scene, which you gave yourself. Your fate depends on such a stage. Treat with respect to this house and force him to respect others. Religious services or get out.

He declared that the naturalness, simplicity and truth - the law of dramatic art. Shchepkin struggled with bombastic style game popular at that time in the Russian theater.

"Reading the role - said SHCHEPKIN - did his best to force myself to think and feel, think and feel as the one you should be, you try, so to speak, chew and swallow the whole role that she came to you in flesh and blood . Attain this - and you yourself are born and the true voices, and gestures of the faithful, and without it as you do not juggle, what springs are not carts, everything will work trash. The public is not naduesh: she now sees that you are trying to confuse her and just do not feel that what you say. "

For the great artist was not primarily the external behavior of the hero, and the disclosure of internal experiences. This realistic approach Shchepkin claimed his art.

He gave a new direction of development of Russian theater, and this is its historical merit.