Alexander Oleshko remembered how he played the son of Yulia Borisova

The last performance in which the People’s Artist of the USSR Yulia Borisova shone was the play “Take Madame Gauthier’s Umbrella”, staged at the Vakhtangov Theater by director Vladimir Ivanov. Alexander Oleshko played the role of the son of the heroine Borisova, but did not immediately enter the play. Here’s what he remembers about working on stage with a great actress.

– At the premiere of Take an Umbrella Madame Gauthier, Vera Vasilyeva sat in the front row. Shortly before that, at the premiere of Vasilyeva’s performance at the Satire Theater, Yulia Borisova was sitting in the front row, ”Alexander Oleshko said specifically for MK. – I saw how carefully they watched each other’s game. For life on stage! One-year-olds! Both legends of their theaters and real superstars! At the same time, examples of modesty and service!

I must say, I was very worried that our teacher Vladimir Vladimirovich Ivanov did not remember me when rehearsing a benefit performance by Yulia Borisova. But when the performance got on its feet and fell in love with the audience, I was very lucky – Vladimir Vladimirovich offered to enter the role of one of the sons of the heroine Borisova. In a few days I learned the whole role. A rehearsal was scheduled, just her and me, in the former, now again in the current audience buffet. I came early. In an instant, the door swung open and Yulia Konstantinovna quickly entered. Immediately to the stage and immediately pronouncing your role text. I was confused, apologized and asked to start again. It was a real performance. Neither before nor after, I have not yet seen that they rehearsed and played like this for real, as if we were not alone, but in a full house in the hall. We went through twice, thanked each other, and Yulia Konstantinovna left. The next time we met was on stage. It is impossible to convey what it is, the look and voice, the energy and nerve of the Great actress. At some point, I felt uneasy, because this is not a game at all, but real life on the stage … Yulia Borisova glory and honor of the theater named after E.B. Vakhtangov! Beauty and tenderness! Courage and performance! She always bowed to the audience with a bow to the ground in the truest sense of the word. Today we must bow to her! Bright memory!