My colleague and I were waiting for him from 19.00 to 23.30. The benefit performance of Sergey Migitsko has already begun, but a fragment of "Gore ot Uma" ("Wit works woe") was due to be performed nearly at the end, therefore Menshikov was drinking coffee, but where? Nobody could find it out.

"He is dressed in such a black velvet coat and is wearing a white shirt and a cravat, – exhorted us a journalist of "the Vesti" (the News). – Please let us know, when he will come to the make-up room!" We promised. Then Oleg Evgenievich appeared himself. And right away his friends, colleagues, admirers of his talent surrounded him, they started to send greetings, to hand bunches of flowers, notes.

"Well, I really don't know, – he replied to our request about an interview. – We shall see, may be, during an intermission". "Oleg Evgenievich, only one question!" – begged "the Vesti". "Yes, sure!" – answered Menshikov and disappeared. Then "Gore ot Uma" followed. After that there was an intermission during which Menshikov was speaking on his mobile phone so concentrated that it wasn't possible at all to come up to him.

"Oleg Evgenievich, but whenever?" – we asked him in a small passage gripping on his sleeve. "But I wouldn't like somehow, – he declared. – Will it take much time? A few? But I wouldn't like even a few… Well, OK, we shall see, shall see." And he went to see … the second part of the benefit performance. When Menshikov appeared again in the make-up room, he was attacked by "the Vesti" and gave up. And after "the Vesti" it was our turn. We crawled to him feeling hungry, embittered and tired.

"Just a couple of questions, girls, – said our hero. – Otherwise what is that? I came for Seryozha Migitsko, but cannot see him!"

– Please wish something to inhabitants of Saint-Petersburg, – we asked him without any spirit.
– Well, I don't know what to wish. You just ought to rejoice more. In my opinion, we stopped feeling any spirited, joyful emotions thus much, that sometimes I feel sad. Whatever happens in our life – it is ours, you see, these are our years passing! So, what? Let's vex and dispirit ourselves still more complaining about this is not right and that is not right again? Everything is all right. Just so, as it ought to be.

– And what does you oppress most of all?
– I am oppressed by the lack of love and awful depression around. Everybody looks spiteful, or at least unkind.

– And how do you struggle against depression? What does you support in this life?
– Many things, including my job. I try … but I don't think I have much depression.

– Could you work with an actor or a director whom you don't respect as a person?
– Never, on no account.

– Oleg, we are told you are about to perform Romeo in the play staged by Peter Brook. Is it true?
– It's a lie. An absolute lie, without any reason.

– Then what are your theatrical plans? Have you found that new play you were talking in "the Vzglyad" ("the View") programme about?
– No. We are writing it ourselves.

– Who is writing – you?
– Oh, no, God forbid! There is a team of people including me, and now, we are creating.

– Will it be something contemporary?
– Something completely contemporary.