The kreutzer sonata leo tolstoy, adapted by ted dykstra
artist note: Ted Dykstra When Andrew Burashko, artistic director of one of my favourite Toronto companies, The Art of Time Ensemble, approached me with the idea of commissioning a dramatic adaptation of a ‘Tolstoy Novella’ entitled The Kreutzer Sonata I was surprised on many fronts. I had never heard of the book, and being a tiny bit of a literary snob, that hurt my pride. I mean, Tolstoy for Pete’s sake. Then, too, I had never heard of the Beethoven violin sonata that gives the work its name, and being an even bigger classical music blowhard, my pride was further assaulted. Third was the fact that I was being asked in the first place – rather late in my career to be coming out as an adapter of classics. I was also intimidated to learn that the second half of The Art of Time’s evening would be a performance of James Kudelka’s ballet 15 Heterosexual Duets, performed by the Coleman Lemieux dance company to a live performance of said sonata. Rare company to keep. I read it. Andrew had warned me that it was a relentless ride. And it was. Wow. I wanted to do it. But how, was the question. I had to look at the heart of what was there, and strip it down to that. I also knew only too well that a story, a theatrical story, needs to be moving forward; always. So, I focused on the ‘plot’ elements of Yuri’s story: wife goes on birth control (yeah, in the 1800’s!!!); man loses perceived control of wife; old friend looks up man; old friend and wife play Beethoven together… Keep it simple, stupid! Add to the plot the novella’s inherent ideas about music being a master manipulator, about artistic collaboration being more intimate than sex, and Tolstoy’s belief that Sex is the Fall of Man, and you have what you are about to see. As for the acting part, I try to just let the piece go through me and let it land where it lands. I’m so proud, lucky and happy to be doing this again. I hope it makes you think. I hope I remember all my lines. Heartfelt thanks to Albert Schultz, Soulpepper, and especially Andrew for having the idea and thinking of me.
Ted Dykstra, Director, Adapter & Yuri in The Kreutzer Sonata