The Amazing Journey of Edward the Rabbit

The musical “The Amazing Journey of Edward the Rabbit” is the second work by V. B. Rivkin performed by our Theatre (the first was the opera «The Fiddler at the Wedding»). The libretto was written by Nikolai Gol, based on the novella of the same name by the popular American author Kate DiCamillo. The musical was written in 2009 for Alexander Petrov's Saint Petersburg Children's Opera Theatre “Zazerkalye”, but the head of that theatre was not satisfied with the music, and another composer began writing music for the same libretto. Irina Sadovnikova, however, liked the original music, and so this musical was staged.

The company received the project with mixed feelings: some did not like that it is, after all, a children's fairy tale, others found the text frivolous (and after Pushkin, too!). But on one thing everyone agreed — the music was good! While working on the musical, V. Rivkin was already picturing our actors in the roles. The roles turned out small but full of character: lovers of the grotesque, dance, jazz, and lyricism each found something to their taste.

Vadim Rivkin and Kate DiCamillo

Many children of various ages were involved in the project. Some of them had to hold a doll in their hands while on stage. Someone brought a favourite toy from home; several wonderful dolls were made by Agata Sorotokina's grandmother. These "homemade" details and the presence of children gave what happened on stage a feeling of kindness and cosiness. The music was played by a small orchestra: violin, flute, clarinet, synthesiser, and piano, which undoubtedly added to the fairy-tale quality of the performance.