Oleg Menshikov

THEATRE. "NIZHINSKY"

Nijinsky
A game of solitaire for two.
© Alexei Burykin
© Translated and edited by John Freedman

АСТ TWO

(Nijinsky alone)

NIJINSKY.
I am here and there,
Imagination everywhere,
А shimmering reflection
Of а lost, wayfaring face.
I am here and there. Snared
In а magical game of my own making,
I am the talk of the town
On earth as in heaven!
I am everywhere! I sparkle, I hide,
I will always return
‘Til the day the world, love and I
Shall plunge into oblivion!

(Enter the Actor)

ACTOR. First name, middle name, last name?

(Nijinsky is silent)

Date of birth?
NIJINSKY. Eighteen eighty-nine.
ACTOR. Aha! Or was it 1890?
NIJINSKY. I don't remember.
ACTOR. Place of birth?
NIJINSKY. Kiev.
ACTOR. Or was it Warsaw?
NIJINSKY. I was baptized in Warsaw.
ACTOR. What do you love most in the world?
NIJINSKY. Lobster.
ACTOR. What do you hate?
NIJINSKY. Myself.
ACTOR. Your favorite subject?
NIJINSKY. My comb.
ACTOR. Color?
NIJINSKY. Lilac.
ACTOR. Flower?
NIJINSKY. Rose.
ACTOR. Don't lie!
NIJINSKY. Sorry. Baobab.
ACTOR. That's not а flower!
NIJINSKY. The baobab blossoms once а year. For one night. In June.
ACTOR. February.
NIJINSKY. June!
ACTOR. All right. In June if it's June. Favorite book?
NIJINSKY. The Idiot.
ACTOR. To whom are you referring?
NIJINSKY. Dostoevsky. The Idiot.
ACTOR. The Idiot. Dostoevsky. All right. Your most treasured dream?
NIJINSKY. To forget everything.
ACTOR. You mean, everything?
NIJINSKY. Sometimes you remind me of а dinosaur.
ACTOR. Don't try avoiding an answer.
NIJINSKY. What was the question?
ACTOR. Shall I repeat it?

(Pause)

Well?
NIJINSKY. Well, what?
ACTOR. All right, let's go on. Your ideal?
NIJINSKY. Magic.
ACTOR. That's an answer to another question.
NIJINSKY. Which one?
ACTOR. Are you tired or are you faking?
NIJINSKY. No good! By the way, who are you?
ACTOR. (Laughing) Napoleon!
NIJINSKY. Where did you come from?
ACTOR. А funeral.
NIJINSKY. Mine?
ACTOR. What do you think?
NIJINSKY. Tell me about it.
ACTOR. There's nothing to tell. I don't even know where to begin.
NIJINSKY. I know what you mean. I've been buried so many times, I myself don't know how many times I've been buried. In honor of my death they staged benefit concerts, learned lectures and gala balls! Only they didn't invite me. But let me give you some help.
ACTOR. How?
NIJINSKY. For example. Was everyone in mourning?
ACTOR. Almost.
NIJINSKY. How about flowers? Were there а lot?
ACTOR. I don't remember. I suppose so.
NIJINSKY. Was anybody crying?
ACTOR. Of course! I was.
NIJINSKY. Where was all this, by the way?
ACTOR. I think it was in London.
NIJINSKY. Or Paris?
ACTOR. Maybe it was Budapest.
NIJINSKY. But it definitely wasn't in Petersburg, was it?

(Both laugh)

Incidentally, it was in London that they called me the "prima ballerina!"

(Pause)

Why aren't you laughing?
ACTOR. I don't know. What day is it today?
NIJINSKY. Day? You mean, of the week? Yesterday was Tuesday, so that means today is Sunday.
ACTOR. To-day is your birth-day!

(А prolonged pause)

NIJINSKY. Where's my present?
ACTOR. Right here! (Puts а myrtle wreath around Nijinsky’s neck)
NIJINSKY. Where did you get that?
ACTOR. What's the difference?
NIJINSKY. Where did you get that today is my birthday?
ACTOR. You mean, it isn't?
NIJINSKY. No, I'm happy to… What do you think was in the beginning?
ACTOR. Everybody knows: the word.
NIJINSKY. You see, but it wasn't the word!
ACTOR. What was it, then?
NIJINSKY. А sound. In the beginning was а sound. А strange, unfamiliar, barely discernable sound.
ACTOR. What about dance?
NIJINSKY. Dance… I replaced it.
ACTOR. I see. When а name dies, memories about а person come to life. When а person dies, his name is on everyone's lips. Isn't that so?
NIJINSKY. What did they diagnose you with?
ACTOR. What did who diagnose me with?
NIJINSKY. You know who.
ACTOR. Uh, you know… slowly progressive schizophrenia. What about you?
NIJINSKY. Mine's rapidly progressive. Have you ever tried eating China?
ACTOR. China? N-o. But I devoured America and Europe.
NIJINSKY. All of America?
ACTOR. I didn't leave а crumb.
NIJINSKY. Well, I ate Mongolia. "Hello, how are you feeling?" The main thing is to let them think you are an egoist. Only don't accept any medications!
ACTOR. I can get out of here any time I want!

(Pause)

NIJINSKY. Well you won't find me when you get back.
ACTOR. I'm not coming back!
NIJINSKY. Don' t you understand? They'll bring you back.
ACTOR. Where are you going to be?
NIJINSKY. They're going to take me away.
ACTOR. Will we ever meet again?
NIJINSKY. If we look for each other.
ACTOR. We will look for each other!
NIJINSKY. And maybe we'll even find each other! I know а place to hide.
ACTOR. Where?
NIJINSKY. In rhymes. For example: Love!
ACTOR. Glove!
NIJINSKY. God.
ACTOR. Dog. Now let me. Life!

(They stare at each other)

Oh, all right, all right. Death!
NIJINSKY. Stock Exchange!

(They stare at each other)

ACTOR. Prosperity!
NIJINSKY. Politics!
ACTOR. Penitentiary!
NIJINSKY. Critics!
ACTOR. Theorization!

(Stare at each other)

NIJINSKY. Prostitution!
ACTOR. Revolution!
NIJINSKY. Lean meat!
ACTOR. Leonid Myasin!*

(The two stare at each other)

NIJINSKY. That doesn't rhyme at all. (Turns away)

(Pause)

ACTOR. Well, well. Please do pardon me, my dear Prince Myshkin!** I've done а bad thing. If you want, I’ll kiss your hand right now!
NIJINSKY. I would never have thought you were like that! I thought you were incapable of confession.
ACTOR. What is it has given me the idea recently that you are an idiot? You notice things nobody else notices. One can talk to you, but it's best not to!
NIJINSKY. For some reason, everybody considers me an idiot! It's true I once was so sick that I was as helpless as an idiot. But how can I possibly be an idiot now, when I am perfectly capable of understanding that others consider me an idiot? Huh?
ACTOR. Huh?
NIJINSKY. I come in here and think: "People say I'm an idiot. But I'm smart, and they don't suspect that." I often think that.
ACTOR. Pardon me, but with whom am I speaking?
NIJINSKY. Prince Lev Nikolayevich Myshkin, at your service.
ACTOR. You mean, Vaslav Fomych Nijinsky?
NIJINSKY. Who's that?
ACTOR. Repeat!

(Pause)

NIJINSKY. Is this some kind of joke?

(Pause)

ACTOR. I don't get you...
NIJINSKY. Is today really my birthday?

(Pause)

ACTOR. Really. Congratulations.
NIJINSKY. Thank you. I spent my favorite birthday with Chaplin. We talked about his mother. He loved her very tenderly.
ACTOR. But you don't speak English!
NIJINSKY. Yes, nor he Russian.

(Pause)

ACTOR. What do you love most of all on earth?
NIJINSKY. Most of all on earth? (Laughs) Insects and parrots.
ACTOR. Unfortunately, I don't like either one. What do you hate?
NIJINSKY. Ringing telephones.
ACTOR. Your ideal?
NIJINSKY. Nietzsche.
ACTOR. Your favorite object?
NIJINSKY. А mirror... no, wait. Yes, а mirror.
ACTOR. Your most treasured dream?
NIJINSKY. To see the light.
ACTOR. In what sense.
NIJINSKY. Next question!
ACTOR. What thought has pursued you all life long?
NIJINSKY. You mean, like an idee fixe?
ACTOR. (Startled) Yeah, sort of.
NIJINSKY. А circle. Not а square, but а circle. Like an eye. The theater must be like that, you know?
ACTOR. Uhuh. Do you believe dreams?
NIJINSKY. I don't believe life!
ACTOR. Do you believe dreams?
NIJINSKY. Not all of them.
ACTOR. Favorite flower?
NIJINSKY. Narcissus.
ACTOR. Don't lie.
NIJINSKY. Rose.
ACTOR. Don't lie!
NIJINSKY. Narcissus!
ACTOR. All right. Color?
NIJINSKY. Coffee.
ACTOR. Me too! Smell?
NIJINSKY. Backstage.
ACTOR. I can't stand it! Season?
NIJINSKY. (Falls into thought) I am not sufficiently prepared to answer that question. Winter in Europe.
ACTOR. Winter in Europe. Favorite dish?
NIJINSKY. Aren't you going to ask about my favorite breed of dog?
ACTOR. No.
NIJINSKY. Pomegranate.
ACTOR. That's not а dish!
NIJINSKY. Then what is it?
ACTOR. (Offended) It's just а fruit.
NIJINSKY. Sometimes you are completely unbearable. It's impossible to talk to you!

(Pause)

Why so silent?

(The Actor mutters something)

Oh, all right. А pomegranate is just а fruit. Are you happy, now? Although it's not true. Happy birthday!

(He hangs the wreath around the Actor's neck)

ACTOR. What do you mean?
NIJINSKY. Happy birthday to us both! Congratulations.
ACTOR. Ha! Thanks. What can you tell me about the ballet?
NIJINSKY. Which one?
ACTOR. Any one.
NIJINSKY. Nothing.
ACTOR. Happy birthday! Why so capricious?
NIJINSKY. I don't know what to say. Thanks. Give me а hint!
ACTOR. Let's say, plot, choreography.
NIJINSKY. Oh, plot! It's always the same. "What' s the plot of your story?" There is none.

(The Actor laughs)

That's right. You've either got to have а plot that nobody knows at all or that everybody everywhere knows. It's like looking at а painting or listening to а symphony. For example, I could devise а dance for а hunchback, could you?
ACTOR. Me? No!
NIJINSKY. There, you see? You just waved me off with your hand. That was an expressive gesture. Choreography makes use of the very same gesture, only in an artificially created environment. That's all there is to it. What's it to you?
ACTOR. I heard something about the ballet once. But I don't remember it now! Something about а pretty castle.
NIJINSKY. Yes! The castle of beauty. Yeah. That's not bad. It's only а game, of course. But I know one thing, there is no such thing as а dance that is independent from death.
ACTOR. (Tossing off the wreath) No such thing as а dance that is independent from death? (Pause) What about this? (Does а rock 'n' roll dance)

(Nijinsky laughs)

Say, how was it that you could hang in the air at the top of а leap?
NIJINSKY. That's simple. You just get а bit of а running start, take off, and then, for а minute, you just stop in the air.
ACTOR. (Stopping) What do you mean, just stop?
NIJINSKY. It’s easy. Try it.
ACTOR. Me? Come on! I don't have any experience.
NIJINSKY. So what? All experience does is kill а good leap. Come on, come on! Go over there to that curtain.
ACTOR. What are you doing? It won't work.
NIJINSKY. You need room to build up speed. Go on over there. The most important thing is to think of nothing. Absolutely nothing.
ACTOR. Cut it out! This is crazy!
NIJINSKY. Don't worry!
ACTOR. What's the point? This is stupid!
NIJINSKY. Try it. Just try it. O.k., right here. You start running and... I’ll stand right where you should start your leap.

(Pause. The Actor prepares to leap)

ACTOR. Uh, when should I start?
NIJINSKY. (Thinking) As soon as you're ready, I’ll wave my hand. (Pause)
ACTOR. (Walking away) This is pointless. Plus, I'm afraid of heights.
NIJINSKY. Take your position! Quick! Push off from where I'm standing. Ready? Go!

(Nijinsky waves his hand, the Actor starts running. He leaps and flies into the air. Both carefully watch the trajectory of the Actor's leap and laugh at that moment when they imagine he comes back to earth)

ACTOR. I can't! (Pause) I can't do it.
NIJINSKY. No need to get upset. Nobody can do it. I'm probably the only one. You should have seen how the critics ate me alive! They couldn't wait to find а reason to destroy me! Just think. An artist devotes his entire life to art and the critics - even if they aren't prejudiced - don't think twice about moving in to destroy him.
ACTOR. Ha! They think they're smarter than actors. They like making the poor devils shiver and tremble.
NIJINSKY. What did you say? Poor devils? That's exactly right. I've got to write that down.
ACTOR. To listen to critics, you' d think that without them there is no such thing as art and that no one had the right to express an opinion about anything without getting their approval first!
NIJINSKY. That's why I never paid any attention to critics!
ACTOR. I guess their... work, that they get money for, requires а certain, uh, diligence. But it doesn't have anything to do with love of art!
NIJINSKY. Love?! What love?! They don't do anything but theorize!
ACTOR. You know, all this time I've been wanting to ask you...
NIJINSKY. About what?
ACTOR. About, you know, the most important thing.
NIJINSKY. Well, go ahead. Ask me!
ACTOR. I forgot everything!
NIJINSKY. Try to remember.
ACTOR. (Shaking his head) I forget. I forgot everything.
NIJINSKY. I’ll be happy to answer. What was it you wanted to know?
ACTOR. I don't remember.
NIJINSKY. But isn't that why you're still here?
ACTOR. Maybe. It doesn't matter now.
NIJINSKY. Freeze!

(The Actor freezes)

NIJINSKY. From here you look just like me.
ACTOR. From where?
NIJINSKY. Come here!

(The Actor goes to Nijinsky)

From right here!
ACTOR. But I'm not there.
NIJINSKY. What do you mean? You mean, you can't see? There was even а photograph where I looked just like that. And now you are all illuminated, too!

(The Actor stares harder. Pause)

ACTOR. I see. No I don't. No, I see it. No I don't. This is stupid! What do you keep harassing me for? Now you see it, now you don't! Are you satisfied now? How did this happen to me? Somehow I got mixed up in something incredibly absurd! What kind of rules are you playing by? And here I am like а fool playing along! This is dis-gus-ting. You hooked me, you pathetic slob! (Laughs) Here I am playing this humiliating role! For who? The "prima ballerina!" Ah! (Pause) By the way, one sick weirdo like you said that the word God stands for Galactic Organizational Director (Laughs) I thinks that's more clever than all your nonsense about God!

(Long pause)

NIJINSKY. When I was а boy...
ACTOR. Shut up.
NIJINSKY. I used to copy out Pushkin's poems, hoping I would learn to write like he did. Something like, "I'm sitting on pins in а dungeon so damp...”***
ACTOR. "God grant I don't go nuts."
NIJINSKY. That's right! I wrote several poems myself, but nobody, nobody ever read them.
ACTOR. No wonder! What rhymes with "existence"?
NIJINSKY. Nijinsky.
ACTOR. What?
NIJINSKY. Vaslav Nijinsky.
ACTOR. Again!
NIJINSKY. Nijinsky. What was in the beginning?

ACTOR.
In the beginning was а sound. An unfamiliar one.
А hum. And then came lines of letters.
I slept. And swarms of hands traced out а word. I've lost it now.
I woke and saw а pitch-black door and nothing more.
An uninvited guest then joined the agonizing native
Of that undesired night that was so tender!
Merciless life, that unforgiving tempter,
Flew into а madhouse with а leap,
And for а moment stopped being mere life,
Transforming into something more! My soul - which no one can
Humiliate - spinning like а bright snowflake,
Is ready to do servitude!
It waits its future incarnation with impatience!

NIJINSKY.
You speak? He speaks! It can't be true!
That's not the outcome I was working to!
And it's your fault. You are the one who lacked
The love that would have gained you loss...
It's nothing but а sleight of hand
He cannot change. I don't believe he can!
Oh, as I played, I tightly drew the knot.
Don't delay! The move is yours! Your shot!

(Pause)

ACTOR. There's а plot for you! Who could have guessed it would...
NIJINSKY. (Interrupting) It's the resolution. The finale.
ACTOR. But we're absolutely out of time. Whose resolution?
NIJINSKY. The only one possible. The time has come.
ACTOR. Yes, the time has come to finish with this... visit.
NIJINSKY. Well then?

(Pause)

ACTOR. Agreed.

(Pause)

NIJINSKY. All right. (Takes out two pistols and loads them) Antiques. They are quite reliable.
ACTOR. I do hope and willingly trust that's so.
NIJINSKY. The choice, sir, is yours.
ACTOR. What's the difference? However, I’ll take this one.
NIJINSKY. This?
ACTOR. Yes. It better suits my attire.
NIJINSKY. That remains to be seen.
ACTOR. Naturally. Undoubtedly. Well? Shall we? How many paces?
NIJINSKY. How many is the usual? I must admit, I am not well versed in the arithmetics of duels. How many did Lermontov use?
ACTOR. It seems I’ve danced а duel or two... Let's just say ten. (Goes to measure out the paces and establish the barrier)
NIJINSKY. (Takes out money) I do not wish to remain in your debt. (Throws the packet of money at the Actor)
ACTOR. What а shame you never made it to Paris or to Zurich.
NIJINSKY. (Pointing to the wreath) By the way, you were wrong. Today is not my birthday.

(Pause)

ACTOR. Would the gentleman care to be my second?
NIJINSKY. I see no other choice. And in turn, good sir, if it wouldn't be too much trouble...
ACTOR. My goodness, no! I would be pleased and honored. And now, what about а doctor?
NIJINSKY. I think that is unnecessary.
ACTOR. But it is tradition!
NIJINSKY. I can take on that function myself.
ACTOR. Won't that be а bit much for one person?
NIJINSKY. Not at all. Don't you worry!
ACTOR. As an honorable second, I am obliged to offer а peaceful settlement. Perhaps the gentlemen will apologize to one another and shake hands?
NIJINSKY. And then what? (Pause) I have nothing to apologize for.
ACTOR. That goes doubly for me.
NIJINSKY. Then, let's dispense with the formalities!
ACTOR. Yes. Let's dispense with these horrid cliches. Are you ready?
NIJINSKY. Sir! We forgot to determine whose shot shall be the first!
ACTOR. One moment! (Takes out а coin)

(Nijinsky approaches)

Heads or tails?
NIJINSKY. Call it tails or nothing.
ACTOR. Tails it is. We shall see who is the prince and who's the pauper! (He flips the coin) He laughs best who shoots last. (Looks at the coin) It's heads.
NIJINSKY. You, sir, are having uncommon luck.
ACTOR. Shall we take our places?
NIJINSKY. Yes. It would be silly to shoot at the distance of а single pace.
ACTOR. Why does sir say that?
NIJINSKY. Sir says that because if there were nothing to separate us at all, then what would be the point of dueling?

(Pause)

ACTOR. I see your point! How is your eyesight?
NIJINSKY. Better than yours.
ACTOR. We shall see.
NIJINSKY. Enough dallying! To our places!
ACTOR. As regards your reference to the passage of time, I heartily agree. However, I dare note that our place is one and the same.
NIJINSKY. Depends on your point of view!

(Nijinsky goes to one side of the stage, and then suddenly whirls around and goes to the other. They separate. The stage is empty. Pause. From offstage the Actor's voice is heard: "Begin!" They begin walking toward each other. Nijinsky lowers his pistol)

ACTOR. What's the matter?
NIJINSKY. Just look at yourself! You can't go fighting а duel in such filthy shoes! (Takes out а pair of shoes) Try these on.

(The Actor puts on the shoes)

Excellent! А perfect fit! I’d be happy to give them to you, but now is not the time for gifts.
ACTOR. Thank you.

(They separate.)

Hey! You forgot your pistol!

(Nijinsky returns and takes his pistol. They separate again. Pause. The Actor's voice is heard: “Begin!” They walk toward each other)

I have the feeling my pistol isn't loaded.
NIJINSKY. That's impossible. I loaded both of them.
ACTOR. In your haste you might have forgotten one.
NIJINSKY. Who's the one who showed up with an empty suitcase?

(They stare at one another)

ACTOR. I’ll check. (He checks his pistol)
NIJINSKY. To our places!

(They separate. The Actor shouts: "Hиt!" Nijinsky answers: "What do you mean, 'hиt'? This isn’t а circus act. Begin!" They approach one another. А telephone rings. The duelists freeze)

NIJINSKY. You get it. And tell them I'm not here, nor will I be.
ACTOR. Why me? Maybe we just shouldn't answer?
NIJINSKY. Then I won't be able to concentrate on you!
ACTOR. (Approaches the telephone) All right, we'll call it your last wish. Hello? Hello? Speak up! (Slams down the receiver) For the love of God!

(Nijinsky’s vision. His children: Kyra aпd Vladislav)

DAUGHTER.
No need to fear. Everything is bliss!
I'm all astir, although I know it's time to sleep!
Can you count the stripes that paint а rainbow?
That's how many hours I want to sleep!

NIJINSKY.
Sleep, my sweet girl, I am your guard.
Rest beneath my loving heart!
May sleep bring you а magic dream
The likes of which are never seen!
I love with equal poignancy
Those timeless sisters, life and death.
For time's а fool: Who, if not we,
Knows best the hour that now is striking?

SON.
I know you by your footsteps,
Your silence and your sorrow.
Let' s plant а little garden on my star
That always will be near, even if it's far.
This little star of mine is, oh, so small
It never shined. It is so small, this star,
It truly shined forever.

NIJINSKY.
The blinding speed of death is much too quick to wait for.
In life, I knew no peace. I heard the titillated chatter
About my rumored trysts. But then,
When midnight passed, the mornings always were much kinder.
I saw the world - a blur - from the windows of hotels.
(It always had the feel of а double-bottomed cell.)
With my own eyes I saw the aging William Tell,
But there was just one thing that had the power to make me weep:
Not on а seething Paris street
Nor on а steaming Venice square
Could death, so swift and spare,
Cut short the soaring flight
Of my low life...

(Pause)

I hear an organ grinder playing... Do try to look after yourself better. Going around in filthy shoes is а nasty habit. No, I guess I didn't hear anything after all. (Disappears in а leap)

(The telephone rings. The Actor answers it, muttering to himself, ”I’m not here, nor will I be")

ACTOR. Hello? No. Sorry. This is not а theater. (Hangs up the phone. Extends his hand and looks upward) Is that rain?

(Rain begins pouring. The phone rings again. The Actor covers his head with his handkerchief)

CURTAIN
END OF PLAY

***

* Leonid Myasin (1895-1979), whose last name is very similar to the Russian word for meat - "myaso" - was the dancer who replaced Nijinsky in the Ballets Russes in 1919. He went on to а long, brilliant career as а dancer, choreographer and artistic director.
** Prince Lev Nikolayevich Myshkin is the main character of Fyodor Dostoevsky's novel, The Idiot. Myshkin is considered an idiot in society because he is the nearly-perfect human, а Christ-like figure.
*** Nijinsky rephrases the first line of Pushkin's poem, "The Prisoner." The original translates literally as, "I sit behind bars in а damp dungeon."

[act 1] [act 2]