Leonid Parfenov: The event that promises to be the most significant in culture, social and non-political life of Moscow in the end of the year. Yesterday, on the stage "Under the roof" of Mossovet Theatre there was a closed premiere of "Gamblers" by Gogol directed by and starring Oleg Menshikov. That is called "a performance for mums and dads" in theatre circles. After the previous performances of Menshikov entreprise, "Woe from Wit" and "Kitchen" the fate of "Gamblers" is quite predictable: sourish reviews in the newspapers and full houses at the record-breaking expensive tickets.
The superstar of native theatre and cinema Oleg Menshikov is 30 roles, 15 prizes and no titles - he is neither National artist nor even Honored one [the titles for actors in Russia]. But, as if under Stalin, he is a three times The State Prize winner. The reputation of a snob, an aesthete, a capricious proud man and the most highly-paid actor in Russia. Obviously, the most favorable role is to be the face of Longines watches. In the nearest future Menshikov will play detective Erast Fandorin in his own screening of Akunin's detective story "Councillor of State". Earlier Mikhalkov was supposed to direct the film.
In his present staging of "Gamblers", Menshikov plays card-sharper Uteshitelny. The yesterday's performance, as I've said, was a closed one. The first performances for the audience will be on December 19 and 20, and then series of three nights twice a month.

L.P.: In general, do you work for audience or for yourself?
O.M.: We work for audience, but this time I just don't think about the viewer too much, like any, I think, director or actor... You see, here's some silly situation. On one hand, everybody says: "We work for ourselves", and on the other hand, if you tell everybody: "Well, let the audience not go to your performances". [laughing] I'll see how they will keep working.

The day before the closed premiere there were rehearsals of the ending and draft run-through of the scenes. And in the intervals there was lunch and the interview.

L.P.: What the audience will go to? Gogol, Menshikov, "Gamblers"? To what?
O.M.: I don't know... I think... How to say? Well, I doubt they'll go to Gogol... What is Gogol for the audience? Well, Gogol... Gogol, it's like, you know, from little up to all of us: Gogol, Pushkin, right? I mean all that is rather...

L.P.: In other words they'll go to Menshikov?
O.M.: [laughing] Well, how good I'd be to say: "Yes, of course, they'll go to Menshikov!" But I don't leave out such a possibility. But recently for some reason everybody accuses me of that, well - all my films, all my performances - "Oh, they go to Menshikov". Strictly, why is there an actor then? [laughing] What is it so bad in going to an actor? And Gogol appeared... Well, I have long and serious relationship with Gogol - I simply love him. [laughing] Nice, isn't it? Sounds interesting for an actor!

If we speak about Gogol, we must say that he was the only one of all great classics-card players to glorify the art of jugging. You shall trick merrily, but not pore over making a false deck called Adelaida Ivanovna. Sharper Uteshitelniy is an inspired Mozart shining with bright smile in the lies.
The draft run-through - it is when they act during 5 minutes, seriously, not half strength, and then during 10 minutes shout: "Who misacted the scene? Who didn't put the middle cushion on the balcony?" And then again Gogol's text.

O.M.: I think, that I lose much as an actor, because I spend more time on the other side of the stage, and of course... I mean, roughly speaking, I start to enjoy the role, judging by my previous directive experience, on approximately the 20th or 25th performance, something like that...

But before that time, evidently in February, at about the 10th performance of "Gamblers", Menshikov will start to screen Akunin and, losing as an actor, play Fandorin.

O.M.: Any actor, if he has to say who he wants to play in Akunin's... Nobody will say - Fandorin. But I think it's a bit false, because to create a positive hero... What is Fandorin? He is a positive hero anyway, like James Bond for the countries with non-convertible currency. [laughing] That's why he must be thought out very precisely. And again I say that now I must, so to say, master "Gamblers", run the premiere, and immediately I will dive into this story, and I... You see, when there's some decoy, it... There's something calling you, you can't word it, but it is out there, and you feel that you must go that way. You don't understand what it is, but so far I know, that I must go, and some, so to say, leading lights give me signals from there...