Oleg Menshikov expresses intention to depart from the Yermolova Theatre, penning a formal declaration for the matter.
Spilling the Beans with Oleg Mennikov: A Bookish Chat
Get comfy as we dip into a lively conversation between actor Oleg Mennikov and writer Alexander Tsypkin, hosted on Tsypkin's YouTube channel. Their topic du jour? Books, reads, and literary passion.
In this heart-to-heart, Mennikov shares that he's not your typical avid reader, but there are books he holds close to his heart. Tsypkin kicks off the chat with a discussion on success and recognition, which, according to Mennikov, didn't come overnight. It was post-"Burnt by the Sun" that the actor truly felt recognized.
Flying High in Youth
Mennikov admits he felt like he was soaring in his younger days, "In some blissful flight. Everything was perfect." He confessed that for a while, he thought all actors experienced life this way. It wasn't until later that he realized not everyone shares his luck.
Embracing Awards
When Tsypkin asked about Mennikov's feelings on winning the Laurence Olivier Prize in 1992 for his role as Sergei Esenin in the play "When She Danced," he replied, "I was pleased, I flew to London. But the prize itself didn't mean anything to me then, it was just a delight of life."
As he's grown older, Mennikov has come to view awards as less important, preferring to focus on his work. He states, "If after 40, a person thinks about any awards, they should see a doctor. After 40, no awards matter to me anymore. I don't care."
Deeply Convicted about "Crime and Punishment"
Mennikov shares that "Crime and Punishment" by Dostoevsky left a lasting impression on him in school. He admits, "I think that any person can commit a crime. We are all capable of wonderful deeds, and of terrible ones. That's my deepest conviction."
One of Mennikov's favorite novels is "Invitation to a Beheading" by Vladimir Nabokov. He praises the book for its humor, stating, "I've never encountered such humor anywhere else. It's the highest quality humor."
Against the System: A Theatre Rebirth
When Mennikov became the artistic director of the Moscow Dramatic Theatre named after M.N. Ermolova, he found the theatre in a less-than-satisfactory state. He recalls, "It wasn't necessarily the people who worked there. I came to a theatre that smelled of cabbage soup. Yes, cabbage soup! But that can't be!"
Mennikov recounted a challenging early period, stating, "For me, the first 3-4 years were incredibly difficult. It felt like a catastrophe at times." However, he persevered, bringing in people he wanted to work with, advocating for high professional standards, and establishing a voluntary dictatorship in the theatre.
Additional Reads
Tsypkin and Mennikov go on to discuss other books, including "The Master and Margarita" by Mikhail Bulgakov and "Theatre for the People" by Italian theatre director Giorgio Strehler.
Thinking of diving deeper into Oleg Mennikov's filmography? Check out our list of his 10 best films!
Want to learn more about the making of Igor Kornelyuk's song "The City That Never Was" from the TV series "The Petersburg Thieves"? Give our exclusive behind-the-scenes story a listen!
Mennikov, in his youth, felt like he was soaring in a blissful flight, believing all actors lived that way. He later realized not everyone shared his luck.
Mennikov won the Laurence Olivier Prize in 1992 for his role as Sergei Esenin in the play "When She Danced," but perceived the prize as less significant than the joy of life.
"Crime and Punishment" by Dostoevsky left a profound impact on Mennikov, as he believes anyone can commit a crime, and the capacity for good and evil exists within us all.
Mennikov became the artistic director of the Moscow Dramatic Theatre named after M.N. Ermolova, and found the theatre in a poor condition, often smelling of cabbage soup.
In addition to discussing books, Tsypkin and Mennikov also delved into Mennikov's filmography and the making of Igor Kornelyuk's song "The City That Never Was" from the TV series "The Petersburg Thieves."
