The fatal role of Andrei Mironov: What turned out to be "Crazy Day, or The Marriage of Figaro"

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

On March 7, the legendary Soviet actor, People's Artist of the RSFSR Andrei Mironov could have turned 79, but for 33 years he has been dead. Over the 46 years that were allotted to him, he managed to perform more than 40 roles in films, play in dozens of theatrical productions and films-performances, but one of these roles became for him fateful and fatal, because it was with her that Andrey's stellar career began. Mironov, and it ended with it …

Andrei Mironov played his first roles in school performances, and after graduating from the Shchukin School, he was accepted into the Tetra Satire troupe, where the actor immediately became the favorite of the main director, Valentin Pluchek. He was already involved in many performances when, 6 years after his appearance in this theater, the director entrusted him with the lead role in the production of Beaumarchais's play "Crazy Day, or The Marriage of Figaro." This performance became a real event in the theatrical life of the capital - all of Moscow was eager for it.

In the same period, Andrei Mironov's triumphant path to cinema began: after his roles in the films Three Plus Two and Beware of the Car, incredible popularity fell upon him. 1968 became a landmark for Andrei Mironov professionally, he gave him 2 legendary roles that became his calling cards: Gesha in the film "The Diamond Arm" and Figaro on the stage. It was the actor's finest hour, the peak of his fame.

The premieres took place almost simultaneously: on April 4, the first performance "Crazy Day, or The Marriage of Figaro" was sold out, and on April 28, the film "The Diamond Arm" was released, which was watched by about 77 million viewers. After that, Mironov became the # 1 star in the Soviet theater and film world. True, the actor himself did not consider these roles to be equivalent. Later he confessed: "".

Mironov generally did not highly appreciate his films, calling them monotonous: "". He most often got the role of charming adventurers, as the actor said, "young cheerful comedians or extravagant crooks", many of his film characters were similar to each other, but in essence - Figaro, a notorious rogue and intriguer.

It was at this time that Valentin Gaft moved to the Theater of Satire, and Pluchek gave him the role of Count Almaviva in his performance. Their duet with Mironov turned out to be simply brilliant, he looked on stage like a real duel. Nevertheless, the director was unhappy with the result and, analyzing the work of the actors after the performance, did not restrain himself in expressions, saying to Gaft: “After that, Gaft submitted a letter of resignation, and Pluchek signed it. And he was replaced in the Theater of Satire by Alexander Shirvindt, who got the role of Count Almaviva. The contrasting duet of the imposing and phlegmatic Shirvindt and the emotional, impulsive Mironov played with new colors, the success of his friend and colleague in the image of Figaro Shirvindt explained by the fact that he had an ideal “champagne temperament” for this role.

This performance became a landmark not only for Andrei Mironov, but also for the entire Satire Theater - all the leading actors were involved in it, it went on with success for 18 years. In 1973, the film-play "Crazy Day, or The Marriage of Figaro" was released, and those viewers who had not seen him in the theater had the opportunity to watch it on TV.

Figaro Mironova changed and grew up with the actor: over the years he was still witty and light, but became less playful and more reasonable, not so fervently believing in justice. The actor was very fond of this role and literally bathed in it. With this performance, the Theater of Satire went on tour more than once. In August 1987 the troupe performed in Riga. On the morning of August 14, Mironov went to play tennis in the very sun, and even wrapped himself in plastic wrap to drive off those extra pounds. His wife Larisa Golubkina noticed that during training he blushed a lot, but did not complain about his health. In the evening, he again took the stage in the form of Figaro and, as always, played with ease and inspiration.

During the intermission, his daughter Masha approached him backstage, and she also noticed that he blushed a lot. Mironov laughed it off: "". The second act began, the actor took the stage again. At the very end of the play, Mironov managed to utter his remark, and then began to retreat into the depths of the stage and barely audibly said to Shirvindt: “”. These words were the last spoken on stage. Mironov fell into the arms of a colleague, they gave a curtain. The actor was immediately taken to the ambulance to the hospital. The best doctors did their best for two days, but, unfortunately, they did not manage to save him. After a ruptured aneurysm and extensive cerebral hemorrhage on the morning of August 16, 1987, Andrei Mironov died. After his departure, Pluchek did not resume the performance.

Later, the fans of the actor learned that his departure was predetermined: Mironov had a congenital aneurysm of the cerebral vessels, due to which several of his paternal relatives passed away. He had serious health problems back in the late 1970s. - then his vessel burst and a cerebral hemorrhage occurred. However, the doctors did not manage to establish the true cause of the incident.

Andrei Mironov lived for only 46 years, but during this time he managed as much as many fail during a much longer life. He became a real legend and the idol of millions of viewers who still enjoy watching films with his participation: The last film work of Andrei Mironov.