Penza, 18 September 2013. PenzaNews. The recital “Benefit performance of Mikhail Kaplan in the circle of friends” was sold out in Penza Regional Drama Theater named after A. Lunacharsky. The hall was full of people. The artist’s admirers were looking forward to meeting with the actor, who had been undergoing treatment and rehabilitation in Israel for over a year.

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Many well-known theater artists came to show their respect to Mikhail Kaplan — the people's artist of Russia, film director Valery Belyakovich, the honored artist of Russia Evgeny Bakalov, musician Alexander F. Sklar, film and theater actor Anton Makarsky, and film director and actor Boris Lvovich.

The official part of the recital was also attended by governor Vasily Bochkarev, who awarded Mikhail Kaplan Medal the order “For merits to the Penza region.”

As the artist commented, he feels great love for Penza and all its residents.

“This is a true city — blooming, growing, verdant. Our theater is getting higher and higher. I am very pleased that we have a large generation of young actors. God grants, this will continue. Fyodor Dostoevsky once said that the beauty will save the world. I do not agree with him. The world will be saved by love and kindness, and that I wish you,” the actor said.

During the evening the friends and colleagues of Mikhail Kaplan performed songs, poems, and mini-plays devoted to him and associated with the period of creative life spent side-by-side.