John Misto „MADAM RUBINŠTEIN“ (Rež. Raimundas Banionis)

John Misto

Madame Rubinstein

Two-act dramedy

Running time: 2 h 10 min

Premiered on: 30 November 2018

Performed in Russian, with Lithuanian captions

Creative team:

Directed by: Raimundas Banionis

Set Design by: Sergej Bocullo

Costume Design by: Daiva Petrulytė

Score by: Faustas Latėnas

Stage Manager: Nadežda Pereverzeva

Assistant Director: Inga Maškarina

Adapted into Russian by Olga Varshaver and Tatiana Tulchinsky

Cast:

Inga Maškarina, Aleksandra Metalnikova, Valentinas Krulikovskis

Madame Rubinstein, based on the comedy by Australian playwright John Misto, reveals the backstage of the American beauty industry of the mid-20th century. The protagonist is a historical figure, a lioness of the cosmetics business Helena Rubinstein (1872–1965). Although Rubinstein was a real personality, Misto didn’t write a biographical play – he only relied on the facts of her life. Chaja (later Helena) Rubinstein, born to a Jewish family from Krakow, became a millionaire in New York, world-famous for her advertising style, shrewdness, hard work and thrift. She lived a fascinating life and died at an advanced age. The setting of the play is very specific – 1954–1965, the last decade of the heroine’s life.

The comedy opens with an intriguing episode: the elderly Madame Rubinstein unexpectedly meets Patrick, an Irishman who later becomes her secretary and closest friend. The depiction of the heroine’s sunset years is very expressive, organic and convincing. The production also aims to unveil the fates of two women – business rivals Helena Rubinstein and Elizabeth Arden. These were women who sacrificed everything for their careers: families, relationships with their children. They lived, worked and navigated in a business world without room for comfort or support. To stay on top, they had to be very inventive, resourceful and strong, ready to disregard everyone else.

Kūrybinė grupė:
Režisierius – Raimundas Banionis
Scenografas – Sergejus Bocullo
Kostiumų dailininkė – Daiva Petrulytė
Kompozitorius – Faustas Latėnas

Spektaklyje vaidina:
Helena Rubinštein – Inga Maškarina
Elizabetė Arden – Aleksandra Metalnikova
Patrikas O’Higginsas – Valentinas Krulikovskis