Little actor – big discovery
The premiere of the play “White Steamship” based on the novel by Chingiz Aitmatov took place recently at the Alp Arslan National Drama Theater in Ashgabat. The story is about the endless loneliness of a little boy left in the care of his grandfather. An orphaned child lives on the boundary of two worlds - reality and fabulous fiction full of his fantasies and legends.
The story has been repeatedly staged at different theaters around the world, and the role of a nameless boy was played by actors who knew the laws of stage play and studied at least Stanislavsky’s system. But the general manager and director of the Alp Arslan Theater has chosen a different way. Handurdy Berdiyev invited seven-year-old Salyh Berdiyev to the role of a boy.
- It happened by chance, says Salyh’s grandfather Ashir Berdiyev. - Handurdy was visiting us. He shared his thoughts about the new production. A complex play, with deep drama, worried the director. He had already found an actor for the main role, but he doubted a little, since to play the child’s role, and to be a child, are two different things. It may be possible to play childish simplicity, but how is it to play child’s faith? So Handurdy remembered about our Salyh and invited him to a casting.
Salyh from early childhood took part in various theatrical productions, cultural events, and even starred in cameo roles with filmmakers. The light-hearted and cheerful boy was quite confident on the stage, and was not afraid of the public. Therefore, the “White Steamship” director expected that a talented boy would be able to try himself in the complex dramatic role.
- We have a fairly creative family, grandfather Ashir continues. - Almost all ancestors of Salyh are artists, actors, singers, and the boy grows and develops in this environment. We read the story by Chingiz Aitmatov with the whole family, laughed and cried over the plot. We discussed some scenes with my grandson. He had to learn by heart a large amount of text, but Salyh has a good memory. He remembered not only his words, but also the remarks of his partners in the scene. When I came to the premiere, I could not take my eyes off the main character. My grandson really turned into another boy unfamiliar to me. Like many spectators, I could not hold back my tears, believing every word he uttered from the stage.
A large cast of characters, where 15 people are employed, tried to help the boy. Salyh made friends with the whole team, carefully listened to the advice of his colleagues, and rehearsed every day until late in the evening. According to the director, the boy was looking forward to the first performance day, worried, tried to follow all the instructions.
We met with Salyh after the premiere, when the happy boy could hardly keep down emotions. He admitted that in the future he dreams of becoming a professional actor, and since he devotes all his free time to the theater, he practically does not have time to play in the yard. But for the boy this is not a problem at all. He likes to read, is drawn to learning foreign languages, and shows interest in sports.
- It was easy to work with Salyh, director Hanberdy Berdiyev says. - Each of his actions on the stage was a full harmony. He believes in what he says and does, completely abstracted from the audience, as if he lives a small life on the stage. There is an episode in the play where the boy is left alone with the audience for 15 minutes. The scene is quite complicated that requires keeping the viewer’s attention, leading a dramatic line, maintaining the overall tempo-rhythm of the picture, but the boy coped with this task without difficulty. Our “little” actor is a great find for this production.
Looking at Salyh, you understand that children know a little more than adults might think. Is it not what Aitmatov’s story about?
A touching story dealing with the eternal themes of good and evil is full of drama, and it concerns not only the fate of the boy, but of the whole nation. The incomprehensible faith of the main character in good becomes a pillar of hope: “But you have sailed away. Did you know that you will never turn into a fish, that you will not sail to Issyk-Kul, will not see the white steamer and tell it: “Hello, the white steamship, it’s me!”
