Oleshko told what happened on the eve of Shirvindt’s last performance

“He called all the conductors Pulcheria”

The last performance at the Satire Theater, where Alexander Shirvindt played, was called “Where are we?…” He took the stage after a 16-year break and finally played the main role – a lonely old artist, a forgotten clown who found himself in a madhouse. Next to him are two of the same kind, as they say, with greetings: TV presenter Oleg, who went crazy with fame in the “box” – he was played by Alexander Oleshko – and a simple man Slava, played by Fyodor Dobronravov.

Oddly enough, this performance was born not in the theater, not at the director’s table, but on the legendary Red Arrow train, which departs at midnight from Moscow to St. Petersburg and from St. Petersburg to Moscow. All artists know why this express is legendary: historically, after performances, it was to them that the capital’s actors went to film at Lenfilm, and their Leningrad colleagues went to Moscow to film at Mosfilm. Meetings and gatherings took place on the trains until the morning, for which the artists called the pre-dawn morning nothing more than “the morning of the Streltsy execution.”

So, in March 2018, Alexander Shirvindt and his student Alexander Oleshko returned from St. Petersburg to Moscow. They returned triumphant, as both received the Figaro Prize, although in different categories: Shirvindt was declared a “legend of the theater,” and his student Oleshko was declared “the best artist.” In addition, a little earlier he received the title of Honored Artist of Russia. Isn’t this a reason to celebrate?

“Alexander Anatolyevich immediately said that we needed to set the table,” Alexander Oleshko recalls that trip. “He called the conductors, called them all Pulcherias – they were just happy. He asked me to find cheese and vegetables. It was so fun, touching, noisy! Happy trip, to be sure. We went into the vestibule, he lit a cigar. “Well, how are you in general? What are you dreaming about?” – he asked. I replied: “I dream of playing with you. Let’s make a performance for two.” – “I don’t mind. We need a play.” I said that there was no such play, that it needed to be written. And he: “So write it.”

Returning to Moscow, I came up with a plot and rushed to the director and teacher of “Pike” Rodion Ovchinnikov – I voiced the idea to him. Ovchinnikov worked for a year and a half on the play. We called each other every week. We met and read. The play was called “The Great Forgotten.” It took another year and a half for Shirvindt to approve the final version. Three months of rehearsals. The play changed seriously, and about a month before the premiere, Alexander Anatolyevich said that the play should be called differently. And he came up with the name: “Where are we?…” They played and everyone understood: it happened! The play “Where are we?…” became an event in theatrical Moscow and the calling card of the Satire Theater. This was a new, incredible round of popularity for the theater. Shirvindt had not played a premier for 16 years and, to be honest, he never intended to. But at the age of 84, he again delighted the audience with a completely funny, subtle and touching role. He controlled everything and everyone on stage. Each time he added something new, precise, interesting…

We had a ritual: before the performance, two hours before the start, we gathered in his office. Tales, stories, anecdotes… I always brought some small gifts for Natalya Nikolaevna, his wife, with whom he lived his whole life. When he came home after the performance, conveying my greetings to her, he invariably informed her: “Your breadwinner conveyed it.” I had several very personal conversations with him. It was Shirvindt, whom few people know. Perhaps this can be compared to a conversation between a father and his son.

He was always greeted with deafening applause. I stood nearby and was happy that I had a direct connection to this. I dreamed of playing on this stage with him. And now the dream has come true. He needed the performance! I and all the participants needed it! And the audience really needed it!

We played 91 times, survived the pandemic, and returned to the stage. The last time we played with him was in the summer. For the last time… For the last time…