Sources in the theater told RIA Novosti that the author had sent a personal copy of his play translated in Russian from Milan to Novgorod. In his comments on the margins, the Italian playwright emphasized key aspects of the play and supplemented the text with his ideas of the way the play should be performed, in order to direct the Russian actors.
In the course of several weeks, Mr. Lunari received "reports" from the troupe on the preparation of the performance and introduced his personal corrections in the rehearsal process.
According to officials from the Novgorod Young Spectator Theater, Luigi Lunari wanted very much to be present at the opening night in Novgorod. He said that he had always wanted to visit Russia, and the staging of his play was a perfect occasion for that.
Unfortunately, Mr. Lunari's health has deteriorated recently, and he is not going to be able to come to Novgorod.
Luigi Lunari, born in 1934, is considered one of the leading contemporary playwrights in the world. He is well known for his work with Marcello Mastroianni.
The Three on the Seesaw was staged in Russia only once before - in 2003 at the Pushkin Theater in Moscow.
