Although the play was supposed to be shown this Sunday, A. Špilevojus told the portal Žmonės.lt that the discussions about the possibility of “Macbeth” being canceled reached him on Tuesday. However, no final decision has been communicated to him by the theater management so far.
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“Yesterday I received news that doubts had arisen about the play’s performance. I tried to help resolve this issue – I spoke both with the theater’s artistic director and with actor Tadas Gryn. Finally, the artistic director promised that today there would be a conversation between the actor and the director, during which they would try to find a solution. I was assured that I would be immediately informed about the fate of the play. However, no one from the theater has informed me of anything. I only found out about everything from the media. The theater did not provide me with any motivation for the final decision because no one has communicated it to me so far,” A. Špilevojus told Žmonės.lt.
Asked about the further fate of the play “Macbeth,” the director said he did not know.
“The play belongs to the Juozas Miltinis Drama Theater, so only the theater management can answer this question. But I can guess that this play has ended its run. Next summer it will be two years since the last performance. Such a break destroys plays. And introducing actors into the role of Macbeth is incredibly difficult. Especially since this play is very specific, performed in a train depot. T. Gryn did a huge job creating the role. I do not believe it is now possible to replace him with someone else. And I see no point in doing so – the actor is there, but the play is not, by the theater’s decision. Moreover, the question arises not only about this play but also about all the others I directed at JMDT – “The Island That Does Not Exist,” “St. Speige,” “The Iran Conference,” and all others in which T. Gryn performs. If, by the theater’s decision, he is no longer there, there is a great danger to the fate of all these plays,” the director said.
According to A. Špilevojus, he did not suffer any losses or damage due to the theater management’s decision to remove the play from the repertoire, but emotionally accepting this news was not easy.
“I did not suffer losses, but the frustration is no less. It is a pity to have to say goodbye so unexpectedly to one of my favorite plays. The day after tomorrow, a rehearsal was scheduled, I had planned a trip and accommodation. Of course, they did not inform me that everything was canceled. I guess they never will,” the creator told Žmonės.lt.
However, although the director was not harmed, more serious losses, according to him, will be suffered by other participants of the play and the audience.
“Some audience members had to come from other cities, so they have already planned their trip to Panevėžys and booked accommodation in local hotels. And not only JMDT actors perform in the play but also freelance actors. I know that schedules were agreed upon with them, contracts were signed. Canceling 12 performances disrupted their work plans. Also, the narrow-gauge railway depot will now stand empty for a whole month when “Macbeth” was supposed to be shown there. Therefore, we can only hope that the theater management will act honestly and settle accounts with those whose contracts were terminated and who were left without planned work and income. Although probably hoping for their honesty is naive,” the director reflected.
Earlier, A. Špilevojus served as the artistic director at the Juozas Miltinis Drama Theater but left the theater last year. According to the director, he made this decision because his views did not align with those of the management.
“I have already said that as long as A. Venckus and D. Petrakovas lead the theater, I see no possibility for cooperation. Yes, I can come to Panevėžys for rehearsals of my previously created plays. After leaving, I had to visit my plays several times – I enjoy being in the theater hall, meeting theater staff and the audience. But I have no contact with the management and do not want to have any cooperation. Such sidelining of the play does not improve my view of them and their work. When I left, I said that our views on work professionalism and ethics completely diverge.
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More than a year later, nothing has changed – a whole month has passed since the actor left the theater, they calmly advertised the play, sold tickets, and only a few days before the performance did they remember that they needed to finalize a contract with him. And they did not finalize it. Interesting things fail not for the first time due to their negligence and terrible communication with people,” shared A. Špilevojus.
Meanwhile, speaking about the main actor of the play “Macbeth,” Tadas Gryn, the director said he has no complaints about him.
“My relationship with T. Gryn has not changed. I know that even after the decision to cancel the play this morning, he called the theater management, offered possible solutions, but the director’s stubbornness and ego were unyielding. A couple of hours later, the cancellation of the play was announced,” said the theater artist.
The play “Macbeth” had received great public attention, tickets were sold out in advance for almost all performances. After news spread about its removal from the repertoire, theater fans did not hide their disappointment. Asked what message he would like to convey to the audience who wanted to see “Macbeth,” the director was open.
“I can only say that, just like them, I am extremely sad and frustrated that the play is no longer. It was very interesting to create it, it was good to see it, the actors who performed in it, the audience, and their genuine reactions. All I can do is invite everyone who felt close to my work in Panevėžys to come to Anykščiai, where my theater ‘Toli’ has just been born and where, on the evenings of ‘Macbeth’ performances, my latest play ‘Pačios’ will be shown in the night Anykščiai forest,” A. Špilevojus concluded the conversation with Žmonės.lt.
Žmonės.lt reminds that the main actor of the play, Tadas Gryn, also spoke about the scandal.
ALSO READ: All “Macbeth” performances canceled at the last moment – Tadas Gryn shocked: “Maybe this is an attempt to get rid of me”
The portal Žmonės.lt contacted the head of the Juozas Miltinis Drama Theater regarding the situation; once we receive his comment, we will update the article.
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