On one occasion a man went off to work
and on the way he met another man who,
having bought a loaf of Polish bread,
was going his way home.
And that's just about all there is to it.
And that's just about all there is to it.
On the first of April we (my theater friends and me) participated in the literary soirée devoted to Daniil Kharms's literary works. Daniil Kharms was an early Soviet-era surrealist and absurdist poet, writer and dramatist. During his lifetime, Kharms was best-known for his humorous children's stories. His other works, held in private archives, were rediscovered in the late 1960s and today his fame rests chiefly on his experimental, absurd prose pieces.
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| Daniil Kharms |
The evening was a bit funny, a bit sad, a bit ironic and a bit tragic... We read poems and sang absurd... The atmosphere was wonderful - spoons, cups, pots hanging from the ceiling... truly absurd!
We did our variation of the "Rebellion".
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| Nastya and Anya before going on stage |
-- Drink vinegar, gentlemen -- said Shuyev.
No one gave him any reply.
-- Gentlemen! -- shouted Shuyev -- I propose to you the drinking of vinegar!
Makaronov got up from his armchair and said: -- I welcome Shuyev's idea. Let's drink vinegar.
Rastopyakin said: -- I shall not be drinking vinegar.
At this point a silence set in and everyone began to look at Shuyev. Shuyev sat stony-faced. It was not clear what he was thinking.
Three minutes went by. Suchkov smothered a cough. Ryvin scratched his mouth. Kaltayev adjusted his tie. Makaronov jiggled his ears and his nose. And Rastopyakin, slumped against the back of his armchair, was looking as if indifferently into the fireplace.
Seven or eight more minutes went by.
Ryvin stood up and went out of the room on tiptoe.
Kaltayev followed him with his eyes.
When the door had closed behind Ryvin, Shuyev said: -- So. The rebel has departed. To the devil with the rebel!
Everyone looked at each other in surprise, and Rastopyakin raised his head and fixed his gaze on Shuyev.
Shuyev said sternly: -- He who rebels is a scoundrel!
Suchkov cautiously, under the table, shrugged his shoulders.
-- I am in favour of the drinking of vinegar -- Makaronov said quietly and looked expectantly at Shuyev.
Rastopyakin hiccupped and, with embarrassment, blushed like a maiden.
-- Death to the rebels! -- shouted Suchkov, baring his blackish teeth.
( The end )
Overall I enjoyed this experience a lot! We had much fun preparing for our scene and I liked our performance as well. I hope that's not the last time us doing something like that!
[ Photos by Mari Chouette ]
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