The Belfry theatre brings the classic Russian love story of Onegin to the stage with a musical version of Alexander Pushkin’s novel in verse.
Nothing could be further from today’s constant stream of downer news and dull online dating than big 19th-century Russian love — which is where the new Belfry Theatre play Onegin aims to take its audience.
“Right now, because of the way the world is, we wanted to go into a place that was a reminder of love. Yes, it’s corny, but it’s important to be unabashedly romantic sometimes,” said director and co-creator Amiel Gladstone, 45. “When the world outside feels so crazy, being together feels like the best thing.”
Gladstone penned the musical with indie rocker Veda Hille and it debuted to rave reviews in Vancouver last year. The Georgia Straight wrote: “You’re lucky to be alive right now … because you get to see Onegin.”
The Vancouver-based duo had previous success working together on the musical Do You Want What I Have Got? A Craigslist Cantata, which Gladstone described as being “about being disconnected and alone.”
The two wanted to tackle something about people coming together and were inspired by the 2012 film Anna Karenina with Keira Knightly, he said.
“It had this beautiful direction and take on the story. So we asked: ‘Are there other Russian stories like this?’ ” Gladstone said.
That brought them to the classic Russian tale of Onegin, a verse novel by Alexander Pushkin that was later the subject of the Tchaikovsky opera Eugene Onegin. The story follows the wealthy and aloof Evgeni Onegin to the countryside, where he befriends a poet named Vladimir Lensky and stirs the passions of the young Tatyana. But when Onegin hits on her older sister, Olga, things start to fall apart.
It’s a story of big love gestures that draw you in, Gladstone said. “As soon as you step into the theatre, you can feel it’s an amazing atmosphere to be part of. We take you away from the day-to-day and into a different world,” he said.
The play features real-life couple and original cast members Meg Roe and Alessandro Juliani as Tatyana and Onegin. The story is sung through with a three-piece band on stage. This production marks the first time the musical is being fully staged in Victoria.
Both Gladstone and Hille have connections here: Hille plays Victoria frequently, while Gladstone is a graduate of the Phoenix Theatre program at the University of Victoria and is a co-founder of Theatre SKAM.
“I was in acting until about fourth year. With SKAM, we were writing our own stuff and putting on shows, so it became an easy transition to direct,” said Gladstone, also a prolific playwright. “I didn’t feel a strong call to perform.”
Gladstone said Victoria feels like a second home to him and he plans on staying for a while this round. After Onegin wraps, he is set in November to direct Pacific Opera Victoria’s Rattenbury — an opera based on the city’s première architect and written by local composer Tobin Stokes.
Hille has been a familiar face in Victoria for years, on the stages of music venues such as Logan’s Pub and the now defunct Vertigo at UVic. “I’ve had many years of good gigs in Victoria and extremely fond memories,” said Hille, 49. She’s been writing music for theatre for about 15 years and said it’s been a learning experience writing for voices other than her own. “It’s interesting also to have to serve the story and have the songs connect,” said Hille. “It’s like the difference between writing poems and a novel.”
She said the music in Onegin has many of the elements in her repertoire, such as the influence of art rock and folk music. “I like voices that aren’t too polished, so people sound like themselves,” she said.
As for working with Pushkin’s classic text, “a good story will always pull people in and we’re working with one of the greats.”
Onegin at the Belfry Theatre includes performances that are accessible to people with seeing and hearing difficulties as well as ones offering childcare for parents of young children.