Chess as a metaphor. At the New Riga Theater – New Study of King’s Game / Day
New production King’s game made after writer Stefan Cveiga’s familiar work Chess novel, That’s why I started a conversation with actor Gerd Lapoška, who returns to the New Riga Theater with this show, I started with a banal question – can he play chess himself? « I didn’t play. I have an idea of how the game is going on. But I call my friends who work out well, and they taught me the marches – how to walk the figures. Well, I have an app on the phone, and everyday – as if going to the gym – I play some parties. Going better. He also wrote that chess is more of a mind -shutdown, entertainment. Of course, for others it is sports, competition, rivalry. Gerd had even found data that people are playing chess as intensely as ever. Probably also because of internet capabilities.
But the story in the show King’s game There is no chess, but about a difficult time that can be compared to today. Psychological thriller Novel There is a cveiga last job. « Chess is like a platform, like a metaphor. Cveigs, in emigration, saved his wife, playing chess. The writer completed the story and sent his memoirs, sent the publisher and committed suicide the next day.
Alvis Herman’s longtime assistant and Linda Zaharova, a longtime assistant and director of JRT, will debut. The costumes were created by Kristine Jurjāne, and the light artist – Nick Cyprus. Gerdam Lapoškam was offered by Alvis Hermanis. « I lit up! It seemed to me extremely appropriate for the current world. How close we are to stand in the » kings « and the individual’s existence. The feeling that time has stopped, even though the events and story are about 80 years ago. « Chess is like a salvation. But the salvation can be something else for everyone. The other thing is hope. Hope to stay … it will pass … hard to convince myself, but I remind myself that it will pass and everything will be fine. »
Asked with what chess figure associating himself, Gerds laughs warmly. « We know that the King’s key is to protect. But that horse can do miracle things. » Gerd reveals that his grandfather was a passionate chess player and inherited the actor was a grandfather’s self -made chess table and carved figurines. « I’ve picked up a horse. It stands for me in a theater grimetery on the table. »
Premiere in JRT Small Hall – tonight, March 28.
