Standing on stage last night in Brehmer Theater, Russian actress Oksana Mysina stared intently at her audience, shrugged her shoulders, and confessed: “I became an actress because I am impossible.”
The audience members smiled, seemingly entranced by this great artist.
It appears that for Mysina — one of Russia’s most beloved actresses known for her diverse work in theater, television and film; founder of her own theater, the Oksana Mysina Theatrical Brotherhood; and lead singer, composer, guitarist and violinist of the rock band, Oxy Rocks — anything is possible.
For two hours, Mysina charmed the audience with anecdotes about her life as an unruly child in Ukraine, inspired them with her passion, humility and lack of inhibition, and serenaded them — crooning Russian prayer songs and a few of her own creation.
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| Russian actress Oksana Mysina appears on stage with Adrian Giurgea, director of IJʿ’s University Theater, during Mysina’s appearance at Brehmer Theater. (Photo by Brittany Messenger ’10) |
Adrian Giurgea, professor of English and director of the University Theater, organized Mysina’s visit to campus for the benefit of the community, but especially for his students.
“This great contact with working artists is essential for instruction, so we use all the resources we have available to make our students’ experience as extraordinary as possible,” said Giurgea.
Students last night watched video clips of Mysina’s most well-known work, playing Katerina in Kama Ginkas’ “K.I. from ‘Crime.'”
Mysina performed the lead role in this play, based on Dostoyevsky’s Crime and Punishment, for more than a decade, appearing in 15 countries.
After watching the clips, students asked Mysina questions about playing this heart-wrenching role of a deranged widow who bullies her children into begging and loses her oldest daughter to prostitution after their alcoholic father is trampled by horses.
Tears welled up in Mysina’a eyes as she explained the sheer desperation and madness that trap this woman. It is clear that Mysina is an actress filled with a compassion and an uncanny ability to throw herself into a character.
“In life, I am shy,” Mysina said. “On stage, I’m not afraid of things. On stage, I’m like a fish in the ocean.”
For the next two weeks, students will have several opportunities to learn from Mysina. During her residence in the Theater Department, she will attend classes and run workshops.
On Tuesday, Sept. 8, Mysina will have a discussion with theater majors and minors. On Sept. 10, Mysina will run a public workshop. Her visit is sponsored by the Institute for the Creative
and Performing Arts and its Hollinger Artist-in-Residence Theater Program. Contact the theater department for details.