Presentation of the musical film-performance „PurimShpiel”

On the festive day when Daugavpils Evangelical Christian Church «God's Covenant» and Daugavpils Jewish community celebrated together all five Jewish autumn holidays: Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah in the hotel Latgola conference hall, one more very important event took place. The musical film – performance, shot on the performance "PurimShpiel-2012" shown this year during the Purim holiday, was presented.

The pastor of God's Covenant Church Stanislav Zlobin became the author of the idea and the producer of the project. In his speech he told what encouraged him for this project. First, the revival of the old tradition in the city - to stage "PurimShpiel" on the holiday Purim; after all more than 25 years has passed from the date of the last performance of "PurimShpiel" in the city. And secondly, to achieve longstanding and cherished dream - to shoot films. And now, it can be said, the dream came true. The first film is finished. And a large number of people have participated in it. In total, more than 50 people were occupied in shooting.

For those who were present at the hall the advertising video of the film - performance "PurimShpiel", prepared specially for the presentation, was shown.

In the course of the presentation the collectives which have taken part in shooting were presented:

Alla Terekhova, the director and producer of the performance, said to all who were present: «Judaic holiday Purim is a holiday of unity of Jews. And so it turned out that work on the performance united all of us, not only Jews, but also Christians, people of different nationalities. I believe it is the most important in this event. Performance was put on very short terms, only in three months time.

In the performance 14 actors were occupied. The actors occupied in the performance and acting in the film - performance were presented to those who were present:

- The role of Tsar Artaxerxes was played by Victor Petrochenko, but, unfortunately, Victor accepted the Russian nationality and left to residence in Russia. So he couldn't be present at the presentation. And the tsar was, oh, so good!

- It is desirable to express a special gratitude to the performer of the  role of Mordechai – the actress of Folk theatre "Iskatel" Stalina Tsetseruk who agreed to play a male role and played faultlessly, though there were four applicants for this role;

- The 1st narrator - Andrey Kopylov, the 2nd narrator - Evgenia Melnikova, they managed the role very well;

- Elena Fedorova played Esther's role, very penetrating and womanly;

- Karina Guseva played the queen Vashti, though the role is small, but bright and well remembered;

- Sergey Filipov played the role of villain Aman, he played excellent, but nevertheless introduced some personal positive traits to the character;

- Vladimir Senin - the vizier, was a picturesque figure on the scene;

- Svetlana Rudakova - very diligent astrologer and chronicler on the scene;

- Alexey Filipov - the 1st guard and the servant, David Zlobin - the 2nd guard and the servant, both managed their roles, everything was played precisely and in time;

- Girls: Ioanna Zlobina, Christina Nitisha and Lyuba Filipova became an ornament of the final scene of the performance;

We thank everyone and we wish further success!

Raisa Abramovna Ustinskova, the board member of the Jewish community and the member of the council «The Jewish Centre Ministry» and more, she is a teacher of Russian literature. In film credits she is called the adviser, and actually so it was. She gave advice to the actors concerning all questions: the Jewish traditions, suits, corrected texts, taught actors the correct pronunciation, was present on many rehearsals. Without her participation performance wouldn't take place at the current level.

Three collectives of the Jewish community, under the leadership of a teacher of musical school Grigory Kagan, took part in shooting: a klezmer chapel, vocal ensemble "Mazel Tov" - «We wish you good luck», children's vocal ensemble Faerlekh - "Sparks", they emphasized important and dramatic situations of the film - performance.

Dance collectives of the Jewish community "Holom" and "Aviva", a choreographer Dmitry Morderer, undoubtedly, decorated the performance and the film with dances from the time of Tsar Artaxerxes.

The huge role in the production of the film - performance played Andrey Kopylov, the operator and the video film editor, without him this miracle – production of the film would hardly had taken place. Throughout shootings Andrey surprised all of us with endurance, tranquillity and ability to work with people. This work was the first, but we hope not the last.

 Except the performers of roles and creative collectives there were other "off-screen" participants of the performance:

- the sound technician - David Zlobin;

- scenery and scene decoration - Elena Fedorova;

- suits, requisites and scene decoration - Larisa Zlobina;

- technical equipment, lights - Valery Lobanovsky and Victor Petrochenko.

The board member of the Jewish community and the Member of the council of «The Jewish Centre Ministry» Isaak Narovlyansky in his speech at the presentation summed up the work done and estimated that all that Jewish community and God's Covenant Church has done and are doing together deserves appreciation.

 Together we can do much more!

Article by Alla Terekhova

Photo by Evgenia Melnikova, Stanislav Zlobin