MOSCOW, October 26, Pavel Surkov. In October 1898, a new theater appeared in Moscow. Today the Moscow Art Theater named after A.P. Chekhov celebrates its 125th anniversary. Funny stories from the life of the Moscow Art Theater students, jokes and pranks of great actors — in the material.
How Stanislavsky and Nemirovich were reconciled
Once upon a time, the two founders of the Moscow Art Theater were close friends and, sitting in the Slavic Bazaar, they came up with a new theater. But gradually the views of Nemirovich-Danchenko and Stanislavsky on art diverged, and the masters did not even communicate. The actors thought for a long time about how to reconcile them.
They decided to make a new production of “Tsar Fyodor Ioannovich”, and in the finale, when the entire troupe lined up on stage to the applause of the audience, Stanislavsky would emerge from one backstage, and Nemirovich-Danchenko. They will meet in the center and shake hands.
The scenario was outlined to both, and they agreed — in the end, everyone got tired of the long confrontation. And then the solemn moment comes: the actors stand on stage, the masters appear from behind the scenes… Only the tall and long-legged Stanislavsky was the first to reach the middle of the stage and began to wait for Nemirovich-Danchenko. He sped up, but accidentally caught on the carpet — and fell right at Stanislavsky’s feet. Konstantin Sergeevich dramatically spread his hands and said: “Well, Vladimir Ivanovich, why do this!”
After that, the two founders of the Moscow Art Theater never spoke again.
Treasured spell
The “old people” of the Moscow Art Theater had one game: if a partner came up to you and quietly said “Hopkins!” in your ear, you should immediately jump. This was strictly observed. Sometimes the cherished spell was pronounced at the climax on stage. I had to jump, otherwise there would be a heavy fine.
Once the Moscow Art Theater was invited to a reception with the Minister of Culture. Yanshin, Massalsky, Gribov, Belokurov and the famous joker Boris Livanov came. And so, standing in front of Ekaterina Furtseva, when she was saying something important, Livanov, turning half a turn to his comrades, said in a theatrical whisper:
— Hopkins!
And everyone jumped.
«They will allow»
Stalin was very fond of the play «Days of the Turbins». And in general, I often went to the Moscow Art Theater. But the heroes of Bulgakov’s work were the White Guards, and Stanislavsky was hinted that it would be a good idea to remove the play from the repertoire. The master did just that.
Soon Stalin came to the theater again. Stanislavsky was called to his box: the leader smiled and asked one single question:
— Konstantin Sergeevich, why isn’t there a play by Comrade Bulgakov “Days of the Turbins?”
Stanislavsky, who was not only a great director, but also a wonderful theatrical politician, he was quickly found. He dramatically shrugged his shoulders and spread his arms:
— I don’t know, Comrade Stalin! They say that they (and he pointed upward) do not allow…
Stalin burst out laughing:
— Nothing! “They” will allow it!
And “Days of the Turbins” returned to the stage.
Famusov in verse
Evgeny Evstigneev admitted that he didn’t get along very well with literature at school and much of the program slipped past him.
Once Oleg Efremov at a troupe meeting announced creative plans:
—We will stage “Woe from Wit” «! We have never approached Griboyedov — now it’s time! And you (he pointed to Evstigneev) will be Famusov! Go learn your role!
The next morning the bell rang in Efremov’s apartment. It was Evgeniy Alexandrovich. He said in bewilderment:
— Oleg, I’m talking about this play… I started reading it… Are you crazy about staging it? She’s in verse!
Flowers for the founders
It seemed unfair to Oleg Tabakov: in Kamergersky Lane there is a monument to Chekhov, but not to the founders of the theater. Tabakov, who entered the offices of the high leadership of Moscow, achieved what he wanted.
Since then, after each performance, where he was naturally given armfuls of flowers, he always placed most of the bouquets at this monument. “To Konstantin Sergeevich and Vladimir Ivanovich in gratitude,” said Oleg Pavlovich.
There are always fresh flowers there even now.